Handling qualitative data

the long version

Handling Qualitative Data introduces students and practitioners to qualitative research in a uniquely practical manner. Firstly, it recognizes that for many novice researchers, data, rather than methods and their philosophical underpinnings, are the point of departure. Secondly, it advocates a progressive accumulation of skills and understanding of methodological issues as they are needed. This enables the student to perform efficaciously from the start by immediately being in a position to handle, reflect on and get results from, small amounts of data, giving them a launch pad to more complex endeavours. The book provides pragmatic, informal and succinct assistance in the processes of meeting, sorting, coding, documenting and exploring unstructured records. It smoothly integrates software use into data handling as and when it is necessary, with discussion of challenges. It guides the reader to debates about the nature and interpretation of such data and the goals of valid and useful outcomes from qualitative analysis. This text will assist novice researchers to do justice to such data, whatever their background or opportunities for further methods training.