p453... Patterns are descriptive findings. Lots of respondents found this
Themes are more abstract than this, there is an element of interpretation. Lots of respondents found this... and I will label that group as this abstract theme.
Inductive analysis is about discovering patterns
Deductive analysis is when the data are analysed according to an existing framework.
Can i be inductive within the boundaries of a framework? Recognising that the questions and slant of interviews were influenced by a framework of prior knowledge and reading, but within that, attempting to let the story in the data emerge for themselves?
Grounded theory emphasises being immersed in the data - grounded - so that embedded meanings and relationships can emerge.
p454
Once patterns, themes and/or categories have been established thorugh inductive analysis, you can move to deductive analysis in testing and affirming the authenticity and appropriateness of the inductive content analysis. So, you can move from one to the other. I guess it is a form of triangulation. Looking at what you think you see from other perspectives
An "interplay of making inductions (deriving concepts, their properties and dimensions from data) and deductions (hypothesizing about the relationships between concepts) (Strauss and Corbin 1998, in Patton 2002)
HOWEVER
Analytic induction begins with an analyst's deduced propositions or theory-derived hypotheses and is a procedure for verifying theories and propositions based on qualitative data".
Nope, that's not what I'm doing. I'm using those propositions and hypotheses as a tool for exploring qualitative data, the conceptual model is a way of making a boundary so that there is an acceptably small amount of data to handle and already organised in some way, but not then verifying. Verifying to me means truth-checking and I am not doing that.
Later in the same paragraph however, it does seem more to describe what i want to do:
Sometimes [...] qualitative analysis is first deductive or quasi-deductive and then inductive as when, for example, the analyst begins by examining the data in terms of theory- derived sensitizing concepts or applying a theoretical framework developed by someone else [...] After or alongside this deductive phase of analysis, the researcher strives to look at the data afresh for undiscovered patterns and emergent undertandings (inductive analysis).
Inductive analysis is one of the primary characteristics of qualitative inquiry, so we need strategies for thinking and working inductively. Here are two:
1. identify, define and elucidate the categories developed by they people studied (emic)
2. seeing patterns that he people studied do not describe in their own terms, so the analyst develops them (etic)
Comments
placeholder to separate blog post
placeholder to separate blog postNew comment
Hi Arwen
As I said by email, this is really helpful in making me think of all these ideas in terms of dualisms, rather than dualities. It seems we will need to dance between different types of analysis.
In terms of my research, I've also started to think of it in terms of its wider historical context (M-ball). My 'inquiry' (small r research) into whether other people have systems thinking capabilities started throug TU811/2 as I became familiar with ideas that as you say sensitised me to look out for things. This means I started my more formal capital R Research with a pre-understanding/prejudice - perhaps a proposition (i.e. that people do have natural systems thinking skills). My Research is an opportunity to be more robust and rigorous - am I really seeing this, is it wishful thinking, am I making huge generalisations from just one or two people - what I will end up with is a stronger 'claim' or 'proposition' and a report where others can say "yes, I see what you mean, I think that is a credible thing to say". In a wider academic world, that would then be published and others would build on it. This is triangulation over time, not contained within one 'Research Project'
Sorry to take up your blog with my ramblings - perhaps I need to get my thoughts together in mine.
Helen
New comment
good comments, not ramblings, Helen! Every little comment adds to the sandcastle of meaning.
I like the dualism concept very much indeed. It adds a term to what i was feeling about it.
I also recognise myself in the history bringing me to where i am now. It grew out of an observation in TU812 i think.
But i cannot remember enough about the blessed M ball. You know that analogy never hit home with me!!! What do you mean by calling up the M ball?