The quiz shows that I am a Casual Contributor. It shows that while I consider social change as a necessity and I do participate once in a while, it is not something I consider as a life-long commitment. However, when I participate in activities for social change, I most likely have an interest of helping my community locally but not to address larger global issues. My concern about the poor is one of the major reasons why I would like to create a difference. I do not have commitments at home like having children; therefore, I tend to not be engaged in social work due to my faith or work.
Data is usually analyzed so as to obtain helpful and usable data. Depending on whether the data is qualitative or quantitative, analysis should describe and summarize the information; it should also compare two or more variables and identify the differences between them. While conducting qualitative research, one should either be exploring how a theory or model is applied in different contexts or they are hoping to discover a theory or model from the data collected. This means that in as much as a researcher may have some ideas about their topic, they are also looking for insight and ideas from practitioners or other experts in the field.
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Analyzing qualitative data entails uncovering or understanding the big picture by utilizing data to describe a phenomenon and what this means. Qualitative analysis involves naming and encoding all the data so the similarities and differences can be realized. Responses from even a not-so-organized qualitative interview can be placed into a computer so that it can be counted, coded and then analyzed. Even though most often the qualitative researcher may not have a pre-coding system, they should find a method or means of identifying and labeling or coding the data, and this is, therefore, referred to as content analysis. Content analysis entails grouping data. The aim of content analysis is to make the data collected more sensible, and highlight vital features, findings or messages.
The process of presenting data that is qualitative is one of the most tedious and challenging forms of research, especially to those who are new to this method. It could be a very challenging process once data has been collected.
In this paper two approaches to analyzing qualitative data have been discussed even though each of them can be tackled in many different ways. These are the inductive, and the deductive approaches (Spencer et al, 2004). In the deductive approach, there is the use of a structure or a framework that has been predetermined. In this case, the researcher has the freedom to impose their own theory or structure on the data. They will then, use this new framework to make the analysis of the interview transcripts (Spencer et al, 2004). The deductive approach is best used when the researcher is already informed about the probable responses of the participants. Although this method is quick and easy, it can be potentially inflexible and cause the whole analysis process to be biased because the coding process has been decided in advance. This can very much limit the development of the whole theory.
On the other hand the inductive approach entails data analysis with no predetermined structure or framework and it utilizes the actual data collected to get to an analysis. The inductive approach can be a little complex and can potentially be time-consuming. It is more appropriate where no previous information about the research phenomenon is known. This approach is the most commonly used in analyzing qualitative data (Lathlean, 2006).
In the qualitative research, the analysis is started immediately after the collection of the first data where the process will go on as the data analysis is modified till the end of the process. Data collected initially during the process may be used to further give insight to subsequent collection of data. For example, more questions or information may be added to the interviews as per the emerging data in case further clarification is needed. It does not matter what method is used, be it by hand or through the computer, but every researcher should know that the process of theme content analysis is more or less the same whereby it involves finding the themes and content that emerges from the collected data. This process involves discovering themes in the interviews conducted and trying to verify, evaluate, and qualify them through searching over the data over again to identify further themes and categories (Pope et al, 1999)
For a researcher to be able to do this he/she should get the interviews transcribed word for word and read through each transcript and make side notes of words, quotes or phrases that summarize what has been said in the interview. Sometimes the interviewee may get off-track with the responses, and, thus these cues should be decoded. These off topic sentences or words are known as 'dross' (Williams et al, 2014)
Researchers can also use observation as a method of data collection. Through observation, a researcher can get information more clearly than when another person says it.
Yob and Brewer (2015) used saturation of data and analyzed the work of researchers in regards to their efforts to achieve data saturation .
Through Yob and Brewer’s (2015) work, I have found out that it is important to use saturation since it is a useful tool that can help me to know if the data I have collected is adequate, accurate and quality in support of the study. Saturation determines a large bit of qualitative sample size. Saturation ensures that enough information has been received and that no further encoding is needed for the research thus ensuring accuracy of the study.
According to Walden University, positive social change is a deliberate system of creating and applying strategies, ideas and action in order to promote the dignity, worth and development of communities, institutions, cultures, societies and individuals. Through positive social change, there can be improvement of human and social conditions. Walden University uses positive social change to provide a socially constructive and intellectually comprehensive foundation for activities, programs, and products created by the university.
In addition, positive social change is supported by the university through the development of experts who are principled, ethical and knowledgeable, and who are meant to become civic and professional mentors that will encourage the betterment of the society at large. Transformation of positive outcomes comes about through positive social change. This can happen at all societal levels including families, neighborhoods, organizations, and globally at different rates. Walden University’s approach to social change is interdisciplinary and multicultural.
References
Lathlean J. Qualitative analysis. In Gerrish K, Lacy A (eds) The research process in nursing . pp 417–433. Oxford: Blackwell Science, 2006.
Pope C, Ziebland S, Mays N. Analysing qualitative data. In Pope C, Mays N (eds) Qualitative research in health care . 2nd ed. pp 75–88. London: BMJ Books, 1999.
Spencer L, Ritchie J, O'Connor W. Analysis: practices, principles and processes. In Ritchie J, Lewis J (eds) Qualitative research practice . pp 199–218. London: Sage Publications, 2004.
Williams C, Bower E J, Newton J T. Research in primary dental care part 6: data analysis. Br Dent J 2004; 197: 67–73.
