Effective Data Presentation in Qualitative Analysis Reports
Presenting Research Findings
The result should be direct and clear writing whose purpose is to guide the reader, including the limitations that must be considered when drawing conclusions from the analysis. The contents of this section should refer to various issues, such as:
- The origin of the selected data and the particular circumstances in which it was obtained, which may be especially important for a critical evaluation of the results achieved.
- Presentation and description of the data.
- An exhibition of the inferences or interpretations arising from the analyzed data, as well as any special conditions that limit or discourage them.
- Specifications to facilitate the understanding of the result interpretations.
When writing a qualitative report, we must take into account some peculiarities.
The Organization of the Analysis
Information is organized by adapting different strategies as a function of the object of study and the type of information that shapes the analysis. The uniqueness of the study and the information obtained determine the most appropriate way to organize and develop the analysis. Some types of organization include:
- Based on research objectives: This approach considers the issues, concepts, and objectives stated in the investigation. It is often used for very specific studies (e.g., business, market, public services, and social policies).
- Sequential order: This method organizes the analysis by the sequential order of the events or phenomena analyzed.
- Subjective chronological order: While events can be analyzed sequentially, this approach rearranges them from a subjective perspective, creating a new time sequence or set of facts. Studies using life stories are well-suited to this type of organization. A life history is more than a temporal event; it is a logical sequence that involves reconstruction, transformation, and even deformation by the subject recounting it.
- Narrative and conceptualization: The particular form of narration and conceptualization of a story or event will articulate the study and its corresponding organization for analysis.
- Formal descriptions and theories: This method is based on formal descriptions and explanatory theories and is widely used in ethnomethodological studies where the object of study has an experimental and documentary sense.
Inclusion of Qualitative Empirical Material
In quantitative reporting, it is normal to find figures that justify, complement, or strengthen the analysis of results. However, in qualitative reports, the data to be considered is primarily verbal, sourced from interviews, observation groups, documents, etc. Including this empirical material in the final report presents the following challenges:
- Subjective meaning: The significance of the data is limited to the meaning assigned by the subject who produced it. The meaning of a phrase taken from an interview only has significance in relation to the entire statement and the intention of the speaker.
- Data volume: The sheer volume of qualitative data can far exceed the total length of the report.
- Rhetorical role: The role of qualitative empirical material in the results report is often instructive. Its presence or omission does not typically change the analysis. Its influence is purely rhetorical, serving only to document or reinforce a point.
The problematic nature of qualitative empirical material requires the author’s mediation. This mediation can occur in two ways:
- The author remains hidden, allowing the reader to access the material as if dealing directly with the subjects.
- An explicit account of the material is provided by the author.