Qualitative Data Analysis

This chapter provides an overview of four different ways to analyze qualitative data and provides advice about how to choose methods of analysis that address the purpose of the evaluation. Qualitative data analysis often involves sorting data into categories and labeling the categories. These categories are sometimes referred to as codes, nodes, or tags. The chapter talks about different ways of coding data that suit the type of analysis being undertaken. It argues that decisions about analytic techniques be considered early in an evaluation, and that these decisions will be informed by a range of practical considerations, such as audience, time and resource constraints, and the type of data available. The…