Qualitative data analysis
Six months ago, large amounts of funds were allocated to temporary shelters for people who are homeless in your county. However, a recent county data report indicated that people who are homeless are still sleeping in their cars or in parks. You are the lead researcher in the county’s office and are aware that the question calls for qualitative research methodology. You are tasked with exploring and understanding the barriers that will lead to more effective policy outcomes. What types of qualitative data analysis can be used to address this concern through one of the GCU core qualitative research designs? Which types of data analysis are feasible with which types of qualitative data? Support your view.
Interviews are an effective way to gather detailed information about people's experiences and perspectives. Interviews often involve structured or semi-structured questions designed to uncover certain aspects of the participants’ experience and beliefs surrounding the issue at hand. Data collected from interviews can be analyzed through content analysis – a method in which written transcripts or audio recordings are coded according to predetermined themes – or through thematic analysis – a process in which emergent topics related to the research question are identified across different interviews.
Focus groups allow researchers to gather information from several members simultaneously by discussing topics related to their experiences; this group setting allows for meaningful conversations between participants who may have similar backgrounds but also help bring into light any potential differences among them. These conversations are typically recorded (audio/video) and transcribed afterwards so they can then analyzed using techniques like discourse analysis – where language patterns used during focus groups evaluated understand underlying meanings conveyed within text; these meaning-making processes reveal key insights regarding how participants make sense particular phenomenon under study.
Finally, participant observation involves researcher immersing themselves in natural settings order observe behaviors individuals encountered naturally occurring context over extended period time . Here researcher essentially functions as “fly on wall” taking notes interactions happening around them so those later documented studied either qualitatively (e.g., narratively) quantitatively (e.g., frequency distribution). This approach has potential generate rich datasets due its extensive nature which makes it appropriate for conducting descriptive studies although it also important remember need account biases since observer not necessarily neutral party when conducting observations field!