Qualitative analysis is not (only) achieved after all the data are collected.
Analysis starts at the design stage
It starts as soon as you begin to design the topic guide, as soon as you begin to think who and where to include. As you do this, you are beginning to think what things might be relevant and are leaving enough space for elaboration, for change, for new topics to be added, for new dimensions to be explored. You are starting to think about the research and starting to try to make sense of it.
Analysis continues as you do the research
As you undertake interviews or fieldwork, you listen and think and reflect. And this is also analysis. It’s a good idea to start to take notes already at this stage.
Analysis continues throughout
As you first read over a transcript or sit back and read through some of your fieldnotes, you start to have ideas or see connections. This is analysis.
‘Analysis proper’ starts later
Nevertheless, there does come a time when you are spending committing to their analysis rather than to what is rather clinically called the data collection flies. We will have to leave the field or stop collecting interviews and have a proper look at your data. This starts with re-immersion.
Karen O’Reilly, 2025, Qualitative Research Methods for Everyone: An Essential Toolkit Bristol: Policy Press.
https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/qualitative-research-methods-for-everyone
I hope this has inspired you to read the book. You might also like The Qualitative Research Methods for Everyone Podcast
or wherever you get your podcasts
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