Data Analysis and Engagement Procedures

The present study applied three major strategies of Charmaz’s (2014) grounded theory method: initial coding, focused coding, and theoretical coding. Figure 3:10, with the following descriptions illustrates, how I analysed and engaged with the data, and the process of establishing the findings.

Figure 3.10: Process of finding the findings

Step 1: Preliminary analysis to understand data in a holistic picture

I began an early data analysis in order to understand my holistic data before working on an in-depth analysis in the next step. This was the process of defining what the data were about. At this stage, qualitative codes were created by defining what could be seen from the data. Hence, I could identify emergent sub-themes and main themes of my data, but these themes could not represent the results. I employed an NVivo programme but only used a mind map format as a tool to assist me to build up my own understanding and to organise information. See some of the final products of the mind map below (Figure 3:11).

1 Early analysis on NVivo 2 Initial coding on NVivo 3 Focused coding on NVivo 4 Theoretical coding on NVivo 5 Confirm themes & evidence on NVivo 6 Select/put themes & evidence in tables 7 Confirm key themes & evidence in tables

Figure 3.11: Mind map

This mind map illustrates how many key aspects in my data there are in the overall picture and its wide scope. Each key aspect had primary/secondary factors to support the key aspects. Also, the mind map showed their interconnected relationships.

Step 2: Initial coding on NVivo

I started to code data by focusing on instrument by instrument and participant by participant. I used NVivo 11 to assist me in organising and analysing data. It is suitable for a qualitative data analysis because the researcher can deal with very rich text-based data, where deep levels of analysis of large volumes of data are needed. Figure 3:12 displays how I coded interview data from one participant.

Figure 3.12: Initial coding on NVivo

In Figure 3:12 above, highlighted texts were the area that I coded and named the coding. In this step, I constructed the nodes to put each code in. I named each code individually, if new, if codes shared the same aspects they were in the same node.

Step 3: Focused coding in NVivo

I shifted naming and labelling codes activities from the initial coding to conceptual understanding of data, as focused coding was the pivotal intermediate step in developing the codes into categories. By doing this, I utilised products from initial codes to develop main themes and sub-themes. At this step, all themes were systematically organised in NVivo, but they were not well constructed in terms of narrative structure.

Figure 3.13: Developing themes and sub-themes on NVivo

Figure 3.13 presents main themes and sub-themes of data as resources available to shift to the next step of data analysis.

Step 4: Theoretical coding on NVivo

I worked on theoretical coding, which was a stage to develop, refine, or expand on the properties of tentative theoretical categories. I constructed the structures of themes and sub-themes in order to bond the results. I created these themes in chronological order, and also linked theme to theme to create a structure to tell the same story, with evidence from other accounts to support it. So, I defined the boundaries and relevance of the categories in order to develop the theoretical categories. At this point, in some blind events, I used my interpretation to explain key aspects of the participants’ behaviours as the goal of analysis in naturalistic research.

Step 5: Confirm themes and evidence on NVivo

During and after analysing the data, I spent a great deal of time to re-check the results to ensure that they were named and categorised accurately. I re-checked all themes and sub-themes, and re-named if necessary. I also re-checked any codes which were ambiguous, moving them to their correct position.

Step 6: Select/put themes and evidence in tables

To prepare the results for presentation and interpretation, I selected confirmed main themes/sub-themes with accounts as concrete evidence on NVivo and inserted them into a simple table in a Word Document (see Figure 3.14 below).

Figure 3.14: Tables of results

The top of each table has main/sub-themes. Under each theme there is supporting evidence in the form of bullet points. Every result can be traced back to the participants.

Step 7: Confirm key themes and evidence in tables

During and after results preparation in the form of a table, I once again spent a great deal of time to re-check the results to ensure that the results in the tables were most representative of their themes. I re-checked selected themes and sub-themes in the table to compare and contrast with other themes from the same categories in NVivo. I selected the new results and removed the old ones, as necessary. However, all the results in the table formats would not be presented as findings in Chapter 5. I had to evaluate which ones should, and should not, be presented under three criteria. Firstly, the findings must show concurrence with each other. Secondly, they would demonstrate a contradiction among them. Lastly, the findings would show the uniqueness of the individual.