How Qualitative Data Analysis Happens

Winner of the 2020 Anselm Strauss Award for Qualitative Family Research, National Council on Family Relations.

How is qualitative data actually collected, analyzed, and accomplished? Real stories of How Qualitative Data Analysis Occurs: Moving Beyond "Themes Emerged" offers an in-depth look into how qualitative social science researchers studying family issues and dynamics approach their data analyses. It moves beyond the usual vague statement of "themes emerged from the data" to show readers how researchers actively and consciously arrive at their themes and conclusions, revealing the complexity and time involved in making sense of thousands of pages of interview data, multiple data sources, and diverse types of data.

How Qualitative Data Analysis Occurs focuses on a diversity of topics in family research across the life course. The various authors provide detailed narratives into how they analyzed their data from previous publications, and what methodologies they used, ranging from arts-based research, autoethnography, community-based participatory research, ethnography, grounded theory, to narrative analysis.

Supplemental figures, images, and screenshots which are referred to in the chapters, are included in an accompanying eResource, as well as links to the previously published work on which the chapters are based. This book is an invaluable resource for experienced and novice qualitative researchers throughout the social sciences.

“"This comprehensive volume brings together key voices within the developmental and family sciences to demystify the process of how exactly one executes qualitative data analysis. Too often descriptions of qualitative data analysis strategies are vague, shrouded in jargon, or limited due to publication restrictions. Clearly, this collection of chapters is more than just a 'how to' of data analysis strategies, but also helps readers understand the decisions that are made every step of the way with regard to designing and carrying out qualitative research. Readers have a rare opportunity to learn how researchers respond to real life research conundrums and methodological challenges inherent in qualitative scholarship. I particularly appreciated 'dialogue' chapters devoted to critical issues that cut across a range of qualitative approaches such as reflexivity, the use of analytic software, and how to display findings. By tapping into the wisdom and experiences of those who have forged the trail and done the work, How Data Analysis Happens offers useful methodological tools that will help readers execute qualitative studies that are rigorous, thoughtful and wildly creative." - Joyce A. Arditti, Ph.D., Professor of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Tech, USA "How Qualitative Data Analysis Happens: Moving Beyond "Themes Emerged"pulls back the layers of qualitative research--giving the reader access to often concealed insights into qualitative research methodology. A rarity in our field, this collection of chapters tells the real stories of conducting qualitative methods: the starts and stops, the shifts, the decisions that contradict methodological "guidelines," and the infusion of our humanness into our science. I will use this book as a supplement to my graduate qualitative research class, as it will help students go deeper in their work and normalize the complexity inherent in all stages of qualitative methods." - Megan Haselschwerdt, Ph.D., Department of Child and Family Studies, University of Tennessee, USA”

"This comprehensive volume brings together key voices within the developmental and family sciences to demystify the process of how exactly one executes qualitative data analysis. Too often descriptions of qualitative data analysis strategies are vague, shrouded in jargon, or limited due to publication restrictions. Clearly, this collection of chapters is more than just a ‘how to’ of data analysis strategies, but also helps readers understand the decisions that are made every step of the way with regard to designing and carrying out qualitative research. Readers have a rare opportunity to learn how researchers respond to real life research conundrums and methodological challenges inherent in qualitative scholarship. I particularly appreciated ‘dialogue’ chapters devoted to critical issues that cut across a range of qualitative approaches such as reflexivity, the use of analytic software, and how to display findings. By tapping into the wisdom and experiences of those who have forged the trail and done the work, How Data Analysis Happens offers useful methodological tools that will help readers execute qualitative studies that are rigorous, thoughtful and wildly creative." - Joyce A. Arditti, Ph.D., Professor of Human Development and Family Science, Virginia Tech, USA

"How Qualitative Data Analysis Happens: Moving Beyond "Themes Emerged" pulls back the layers of qualitative research—giving the reader access to often concealed insights into qualitative research methodology. A rarity in our field, this collection of chapters tells the real stories of conducting qualitative methods: the starts and stops, the shifts, the decisions that contradict methodological "guidelines," and the infusion of our humanness into our science. I will use this book as a supplement to my graduate qualitative research class, as it will help students go deeper in their work and normalize the complexity inherent in all stages of qualitative methods." - Megan Haselschwerdt, Ph.D., Department of Child and Family Studies, University of Tennessee, USA

Áine M. Humble is Professor in Family Studies and Gerontology at Mount Saint Vincent University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

M. Elise Radina is Professor in Family Science and Social Work at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA.

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