RES-866 Qualitative Analysis Assignment Directions
In this two-part assignment, you will analyze interview (four) interview transcripts by inductively coding the data and developing themes. This will mimic the process and feeling of coding a large study, though on a much smaller scale. Read the following key points before completing both parts of this assignment.
• Coding is a step in a thematic analysis approach to data. Different qualitative designs may require different coding procedures. For example, coding in a case study may not be the same as in phenomenological or narrative designs.
• Coding is conducted based on identifying similar topics that recur in the document regardless of frequency of occurrence. Keep focus on the meaning of statements, not on their frequency.
• For the purposes of this two-part assignment, you will use Braun and Clarke’s six-step process: familiarization with the data, generating initial codes, searching for themes, reviewing themes, defining and naming themes, and producing the report.
• Coding generally follows this progression: codes>categories>themes. Codes are the smallest unit of meaning and are then subsumed into mid-level categories, which are then subsumed into themes, which are phrases or sentences that directly answer the research questions. For the purposes of Braun and Clarke’s six-steps, categories are established in Step 3: Search for themes. All six steps are outlined in the data analysis section below.
Components of Sample Study
Become familiar with the study components, namely the title, problem, purpose and research questions as noted below:
Title: Perceived Resilience and Online Doctoral Success: A Case Study
Problem Statement: It was not known how nontraditional doctoral graduates perceive resilience as having contributed to their successful online doctoral degree completion.
Purpose Statement: The purpose of this qualitative single-case study was to explore how nontraditional doctoral graduates perceive resilience as having contributed to their online doctoral degree completion.
Research Questions:
Overarching RQ: How do nontraditional, online, doctoral graduates perceive resilience contributed to their successful doctoral degree completion?
R1: What is the level of resilience of the doctoral graduates who completed the doctoral program?
R2: How do doctoral graduates perceive that the resilience factor of social support contributed to their online doctoral success?
R3: How do doctoral graduates perceive that the resilience factor of optimism contributed to their online doctoral success?
R4: How do doctoral graduates perceive that the resilience factor of adaptive coping contributed to their online doctoral success?
R5: How do doctoral graduates perceive that the resilience factor of adaptive health behaviors contributed to their online doctoral success?
R6: What other resilience-related factors do doctoral graduates perceive that influenced their online doctoral success?
Assignment Directions
Topic 2: Qualitative Analysis Part 1
• Hand code the data: To analyze the data, you must first identify codes and themes that appear in the data. To accomplish this, you will use Braun and Clarke’s six-step process (See Appendix A).
o Task 1: Code the transcript as described above, and color code the transcript using a color for each code. Do this in Word. Keep in mind that codes may repeat.
o Task 2: Create a codebook. As a guideline, you should have 20 or 30 codes from these four transcripts.
Table 1.
Codebook
Code Description of the Code Example from Transcript
Topic 4: Qualitative Analysis Part 2
o Task 3: Based on your hand coding, group the codes together into categories based on similarities. As a guideline, you should probably have 10 or so mid-level categories. Display as shown in Table 2.
Table 2
Codes to Categories
Category Category Meaning Aligned Codes
o Task 4: Group the categories or preliminary themes into final themes. You may only have 2-3 themes from this short set of data. Display in a phrase or sentence as shown in Table 3.
Table 3.
Categories to Themes
Theme Theme Meaning Aligned Categories Exemplary Quote
• Use MAXQDA to analyze one transcript.
o Task 5: Download and read the MAXQDA Getting Started Guide.
• Use the instructions on pages 1-8 to import the transcript documents into the software. You can also watch a Getting Started Video Tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJhBK3CDF9U.
• Do the following:
o Import at least one transcript into MAXQDA.
o Activate all documents.
o Use the coding feature to practice assigning codes to the quotes in the transcripts.
o Export the coding system and coded segments for one code in Excel.
o Double click on one code to activate and export the coded segments as an Excel table.
• Create the final write-up
o Task 6: Compile and Write-up Your Findings
• Write a summary of the final themes that you identified when hand coding your transcripts. Include the code book and the tables you created to show the data graphically/visually.
• For each theme you identified, write a paragraph or two that clearly describes the theme and its nature. Summarize the findings in your own words but be sure to weave in evidence from quotes to illustrate your points.
• Include the output from your MAXQDA queries (coding system, coded segments from one code).
• Include the code book and the tables you created to show the data graphically/visually.
• Discuss your experience with hand coding and use of MAXQDA.
• Discuss the benefits and limitations of using MAXQDA.
• How does the software complement the hand coding you did in this assignment?
References
Clark, V. & Braun, V. (2013). Teaching thematic analysis. Psychologist, 26(2), 120-123.
Bernard, H. R. and Ryan, G. W. (2010). Analyzing qualitative data. New York, NY: Sage Publications.
Grand Canyon University. (2013). Template for coding and summary tables.
Yin, R. (2014). Case study research design and methods. New York, NY: Sage Publications.
Qualitative Analysis Part 1
In Part 1 of this two-part assignment, you will analyze four interview transcripts by developing a code book and coding the data presented in the transcripts. This will mimic the process and feeling of coding a large study, though on a much smaller scale. The codes and code book you develop will be used in Part 2 of this assignment to identify themes in the four transcripts.
General Requirements
Use the following information to ensure successful completion of the assignment:
Refer to the resource “Qualitative Analysis Assignment Directions,” which is attached to this assignment.
Refer to the resources ” Qualitative Analysis Assignment: Transcript 1,” “Qualitative Analysis Assignment: Transcript 2,” “Qualitative Analysis Assignment: Transcript 3,” and “Qualitative Analysis Assignment: Transcript 4,” which are attached to this assignment.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
Doctoral learners are required to use APA style for their writing assignments. The APA Style Guide is located in the Student Success Center.
Refer to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association for specific guidelines related to doctoral-level writing. The manual contains essential information on manuscript structure and content, clear and concise writing, and academic grammar and usage.
This assignment requires that at least two additional scholarly research sources related to this topic, and at least one in-text citation from each source be included.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Course Materials if you need assistance.
Directions:
Access the the four transcripts identified above.
Access the resource document “Qualitative Analysis Assignment Directions.” Follow the directions in the document to complete Tasks 1 and 2. Tasks 3-6 will be completed in “Qualitative Analysis Assignment Part 2” in Topic 4.
