Preventing Data Loss and Data Overload A qualitative researcher may have to organize, document, and track large and diverse amounts of information. Consider this scenario: A researcher has interviewed 12 participants thus far and has decided to follow up with 4 of them for further interviews. Unfortunately, the researcher has placed all of the contact information on sticky notes around the computer and now cannot find the contact information for 2 of the participants. Moreover, the research supervisor is asking the researcher for a specific piece of interview transcript from one of the participants. These transcripts are all handwritten in a notebook, and the researcher has 15 unmarked notebooks where interview transcripts reside. Would you like to be the researcher in this position? Can you think of potential problems with this organizational strategy (or lack thereof)? In this Discussion, you will consider data organization strategies so that you will not find yourself in the position of this unfortunate researcher. To prepare for this Discussion: Review the pages in Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook assigned this week. How can a researcher prevent data loss and data overload during the research process? How can memoing and field notes assist with this process? How can a strong conceptual framework assist with providing a roadmap? What strategies would assist with organizing and documenting your research process and tracking data you collect and analyze? With these thoughts in mind: QUESTION: Post a response of 2 to 3 paragraphs in which you recommend strategies for organizing and documenting your research process and tracking data you collect and analyze. When appropriate, be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the reading(s) and/or video program(s), using APA format. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Managing and Organizing Data Introduction Qualitative research almost always generates mountains of data. Unlike quantiative research, which is generally numerical, qualitative data can be more difficult to manage considering the various forms that it can take, including transcripts, audio and video interview, and even visual types of data such as drawings and photographs. The key to a successful qualitative study is the management and organization of all these types of data. Think of the carpenter discussed last week: How effective would a carpenter be with a disorganized toolbox? This week, you will develop a plan for managing and organizing this data in such a way that you can find the data that you need efficiently. Learning Outcomes By the end of this week, you will be able to: Recommend strategies for organizing and documenting the research process and tracking qualitative research data Compare and contrast software tools for managing and analyzing qualitative data _____________________________________________________________________________________ Required Resources Course Text: Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook o Chapter 2, "Research and Design Management," pp. 4552 o Chapter 6, "Methods of Exploring," pp. 124-128 o Appendix, "An Annotated Bibliography of Qualitative Research Resources" In Chapter 2, read the sections on "Management Issues Bearing on Analysis," "Computer Use," "Data Management," and "Staffing and Time Planning." In the excerpt from Chapter 6, you will learn about the early steps in data analysis, including the completion of a contact summary sheet, with an example provided. The Appendix gives information about the types of computer programs you might use for qualitative data analysis. Course Text: Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches o Review from last week: Chapter 7, "Data Collection" o Chapter 8, "Data Analysis and Representation," pp. 164173 Chapter 7 explores the key concepts of the data collection process, including the data collection circle, access and rapport, sampling strategy, forms of data, recording procedures, field issues, and storing data. This reading is a review from Week 6. The excerpt from Chapter 8 provides a comparison of the five approaches and describes computer use in qualitative data analysis. Course Text: "Stretching" Exercises for Qualitative Researchers o Appendix I: Electronic Resources This appendix includes LISTSERVs, websites, journals, and software packages related to qualitative research. Research Toolkit Handouts o Walden Dissertation Rubric Available from http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/ The Dissertation Rubric is a Word document linked in the section for PhD Dissertation Process and Documents. o Walden Qualitative Dissertations This document directs you to dissertations in the Walden Library that use a variety of qualitative approaches and disciplines.

Preventing Data Loss and Data Overload A qualitative researcher may have to organize, document, and track large and diverse amounts of information. Consider this scenario: A researcher has interviewed 12 participants thus far and has decided to follow up with 4 of them for further interviews. Unfortunately, the researcher has placed all of the contact information on sticky notes around the computer and now cannot find the contact information for 2 of the participants. Moreover, the research supervisor is asking the researcher for a specific piece of interview transcript from one of the participants. These transcripts are all handwritten in a notebook, and the researcher has 15 unmarked notebooks where interview transcripts reside. Would you like to be the researcher in this position? Can you think of potential problems with this organizational strategy (or lack thereof)? In this Discussion, you will consider data organization strategies so that you will not find yourself in the position of this unfortunate researcher. To prepare for this Discussion: Review the pages in Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook assigned this week. How can a researcher prevent data loss and data overload during the research process? How can memoing and field notes assist with this process? How can a strong conceptual framework assist with providing a roadmap? What strategies would assist with organizing and documenting your research process and tracking data you collect and analyze? With these thoughts in mind: QUESTION: Post a response of 2 to 3 paragraphs in which you recommend strategies for organizing and documenting your research process and tracking data you collect and analyze. When appropriate, be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the reading(s) and/or video program(s), using APA format. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Managing and Organizing Data Introduction Qualitative research almost always generates mountains of data. Unlike quantiative research, which is generally numerical, qualitative data can be more difficult to manage considering the various forms that it can take, including transcripts, audio and video interview, and even visual types of data such as drawings and photographs. The key to a successful qualitative study is the management and organization of all these types of data. Think of the carpenter discussed last week: How effective would a carpenter be with a disorganized toolbox? This week, you will develop a plan for managing and organizing this data in such a way that you can find the data that you need efficiently. Learning Outcomes By the end of this week, you will be able to: Recommend strategies for organizing and documenting the research process and tracking qualitative research data Compare and contrast software tools for managing and analyzing qualitative data _____________________________________________________________________________________ Required Resources Course Text: Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook o Chapter 2, "Research and Design Management," pp. 4552 o Chapter 6, "Methods of Exploring," pp. 124-128 o Appendix, "An Annotated Bibliography of Qualitative Research Resources" In Chapter 2, read the sections on "Management Issues Bearing on Analysis," "Computer Use," "Data Management," and "Staffing and Time Planning." In the excerpt from Chapter 6, you will learn about the early steps in data analysis, including the completion of a contact summary sheet, with an example provided. The Appendix gives information about the types of computer programs you might use for qualitative data analysis. Course Text: Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches o Review from last week: Chapter 7, "Data Collection" o Chapter 8, "Data Analysis and Representation," pp. 164173 Chapter 7 explores the key concepts of the data collection process, including the data collection circle, access and rapport, sampling strategy, forms of data, recording procedures, field issues, and storing data. This reading is a review from Week 6. The excerpt from Chapter 8 provides a comparison of the five approaches and describes computer use in qualitative data analysis. Course Text: "Stretching" Exercises for Qualitative Researchers o Appendix I: Electronic Resources This appendix includes LISTSERVs, websites, journals, and software packages related to qualitative research. Research Toolkit Handouts o Walden Dissertation Rubric Available from http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/ The Dissertation Rubric is a Word document linked in the section for PhD Dissertation Process and Documents. o Walden Qualitative Dissertations This document directs you to dissertations in the Walden Library that use a variety of qualitative approaches and disciplines.