Types of Qualitative Analysis
Tesch (1990, p. 58) lists forty-six labels that qualitative researchers have used to describe their approach. She reduces these to four basic groupings, where the is in:
a the characteristics of language;
a the discovery of regularities;
a the comprehension of the meaning of text or action; and
d reflection
Crabtree and Miller (1992) produce a different typology, more closely linked to the method of data analysis used:
a quasi-statistical methods;
b template approaches;
c editing approaches; and
d immersion approaches.
In each case this constitutes a progression from more to less structured and formal. The final groupings, ‘reflection’ or ‘ immersion’ , are ones whose proponents are particularly resistant to any systemization of their analytical process. Box 14.1 provides further details using the latter typology.
Quasi-statistical approaches rely largely on the conversion of qualitative data into a quantitative format and have been covered under the heading of content analysis in chapter 12, p. 351). Because of the difficulties in reconciling the ‘immersion’ approach with accepted canons of what is implied by taking a scientific approach (see chapter 2, p. 18), this is not pursued further here.