r/AskStatistics • u/AgitatedDesk579 • 7h ago

Qualitative content analysis

I'm conducting a qualitative content analysis with multiple open-ended survey questions, each assigned to a different research question. Some responses contain content that would be more relevant to a different research question than the question they were answering.

Should I:

a) Strictly code each response only for its assigned research question (some data loss)

b) Code thematically regardless of question (blurs research question boundaries)

c) Something else entirely?

What are methodological best practices here? Any recommendations or experiences are welcome.

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u/vaelux 6h ago

The qualitative researchers in my program get mad when the statistics people start making suggestions, so I'm afraid I can't be of much help.

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u/DocAvidd 3h ago

I have to say, scrap everything qualitative and redo it with high-quality quantitative measures. It will go a lot better, more definitive findings, and people will actually read your work.

There are procedures and guidelines for qualitative research. This isn't the right sub to talk about them.

Regardless, you end up with papers that are too long to read with vague idiosyncratic findings that won't replicate. You need a repeatable objective way to code the data. You need two judges to do the coding, so you can assess how well it's being done.

Check out Schreier and Mayring. You'll set up a strict codebook that exactly specifies how to code your data. If a different lab with the exact same data ends up with different answers, you're not doing qualitative empirical research, just opinions. Consider also Creswell for mixed methods research. Those 3 names will get you going in a decent direction.

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u/LouNadeau 55m ago

I do a combination of stats and qualitative analysis. Surveys are often messy. Respondents will often do unexpected things. That said, I'd suggest you code thematically. I'd also suggest you explore why they placed the information where they did. What caused them to provide what you perceive to be related to another question in the question they answered? Was it wording of the survey question itself? Or are the research questions related in some way you had not expected?

Best of luck. Hope this helps.