Working with Qualitative Data

1. Working with Qualitative Data Recounting a Collective Story from your Woksape Oyate Project Nancy M. Lucero, Ph.D., LCSW nlucero@du.edu

2. 4-Step Qualitative Inquiry Process • Collect data (interviews, observations, documents, surveys) • Notice patterns and themes in what you have collected

3. 4-Step Qualitative Inquiry Process • Consider the meaningsand importance of the patterns and themes • Recount the story held in the collective data

4. Qualitative Inquiry Process

5. Collecting Qualitative Data • Interviews, surveys, focus groups • Documents (reports, letters, e-mails, committee minutes) • Notes of observations (meetings, events, classes, and other gatherings) • Pictures, video, songs and lyrics, other multimedia

6. Noticing Patterns and Themes • Read through all data to get a general sense of the whole • Begin to “notice things”—what stands out? • Highlight and name these things (“coding”) • Sort and group what you have named

7. Considering the Meaning • Think and reflect on the relationship of the themes to such areas as: • your WO project goals, objectives, and intended outcomes • changes in institutional capacity to accomplish its mission • how participants’ are affected by involvement in project activities (as related to institutional capacity)

8. Considering the Meaning • Determine ways that the patterns and themes can create a deeper understanding of the impact of your WO project • Decide what you want to share and how you want to recount the story • Consider return on the funder’s investment and potential to influence future donations

9. Exercise: Working with Qualitative Data • Identifying patterns and themes in the stories of three TCU students • Describing or defining the themes • Considering the audience and the story that needs to be told

10. Have Fun! • Enjoy sharing the story! • Mv do!