Working with Qualitative Interview Data: Themes and Beyond
A recent methods@manchester workshop led by Dr Andy Balmer, encouraged us to take a more reflexive approach which considers more carefully the ways we 鈥榳ork鈥� with data and our emotional connections with that data.
Ever painted your interview data?
Me neither, but that鈥檚 where we ended up in this recent innovative and energising session with , a Sociologist of Everyday Life and a member of the .
We started the session with a useful but whistle stop tour of thematic analysis, which set the scene for a reflection on what is really meant by themes in the interpretation of data, and how this process might change if we allow for a more reflexive approach which allows us to consider more carefully the ways we 鈥榳ork鈥� with data and our emotional connections with that data.
Shapes are the forms which data take as they begin to interact with the researcher, the theories being used, the processes of the methods being applied, and their parcelling-up into research outputs.
According to Andy, data is lively, and opening up to that liveliness entails recognising data鈥檚 many shapes and forms, rather than the 鈥榮traight lines鈥� of themes so beloved of procedural-focused approaches to analysis, and the ways that we 鈥榣ive with鈥� data in our everyday lives as researchers.
It's amazing to know that alive data can 鈥榖reathe.'
The workshop then moved on to a practical encounter with our data through painting on our transcripts or making data poetry with them.
Whether used as an end in itself or a tool to see data differently, perhaps surmounting an interpretation impasse, 38 workshop attendees eagerly embraced brush strokes and poetry. Analysis and interpretation were re-imagined and re-shaped, our data came alive, we read and saw it differently.
I loved that we were given dedicated space and time to 'have a go' at poetry and painting with our data, trying different techniques.... Overall, an incredibly enjoyable, useful and inspiring workshop.
You can find out more about Andy鈥檚 鈥榩ainting with data鈥� technique in and I will be eagerly awaiting the Morgan Centre book due to hit the shelves in Autumn, which Andy is co-authoring with Morgan Centre colleagues (Sophie Woodward, James Fletcher, James Hodgson and Jess Mancuso).
In the meantime you could satisfy your creative thirst with the Morgan Centre鈥檚 鈥榗reative approaches to qualitative research鈥� course, but do hurry as we are at near -full capacity!
Methods@51福利社 workshops and activities
I think the Methods@51福利社 workshops are an invaluable resource and really promote the interdisciplinary spirit of the university. As a social sciences researcher working in applied mixed methods projects it is a great way to stay connected with innovative methods being developed at the university
To keep up-to-date with Methods@51福利社 events and activities see our and do let us know if there are particular innovative and advanced methodological approaches you would like to suggest for inclusion in next year鈥檚 workshop programme.