CU52032A: Research Methods (2019-20)

Assignment Information Sheet: Assignment 1: Qualitative Analysis & Report

Word Count: 1500 (-/+10%)

  1. Please choose ONE SET of transcripts from either the British Dream or the Technology Use interviews. This should be the practice session where you were the INTERVIEWER.
  2. Carry out a qualitative analysis of the 3 transcripts using either Thematic Analysis (TA) OR Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA)
  3. Write up a report of your analysis and findings. This report must follow the format of the Structure & Content Guide outlined below.

Report Structure & Content Guide

Methodology

Data Collection: 250

Comment on the sample population, its relationship to the general population of the UK and how this might shape the type of data collected and the claims that can be made from the analysis.

Comment on the Interview Schedule, the topics explored and the kind of questions used to structure the interview. Given the format of the schedule discuss what the purpose of the research could be (this will help you decide which kind of analysis you will use on the transcripts). Use citations to support your claims.

Comment on how and where the interviews were carried out.

Analysis: 250

Discuss the analysis process: Which analytical method did you choose and why is it suitable for the data set (the transcripts) and the purpose of your analysis. Discuss the approach used in coding. Use citations to support your choices.

Provide an overview of the coding process: Comment on first phase coding: what elements of the transcripts were manifest in each transcript (what kind and content did your initial codes take). Comment on second phase axial coding (across the 3 transcripts) and the development of latent codes. Discuss the development of the main themes (2-3) to emerge from your analysis.

Results: 1000

Introduce the main findings of your analysis: What are the 2-3 main themes you developed? How do you define these themes in terms of content and meaning? What kind of codes does each theme include? What distinguishes each theme from the others? What are the relationships between each theme?

Taking each major theme in turn:

Beginning with the one you consider most significant, discuss each theme it in terms of content and meaning. Use extracts from the transcripts to provide examples and highlight the meaning of each theme. Critically discuss the latent meaning of the theme, why you find it significant.

Repeat for each remaining theme.

TA – Provide an Initial, Developed and Final Thematic Map in the appendices (can be hand drawn on paper and added as 3 photos).

IPA – Provide a Master Table of Themes

Appendices (not included in Word Count)

  1. References (Havard style)
  2. Thematic Maps (TA)
    1. Initial
    2. Developed
    3. Final

OR

Master Table of Themes (IPA)