Data analysis

During the fieldwork there was considerable writing of notes and reports to provide feedback to the research participants. Final write-up involved the production of a detailed case analysis and interpretation, and the construction of the case study from a mountain of data, field notes, reports, and so on, which had been collected during the fieldwork (Ryan et al., 2002).

Each interview was recorded (where agreed by the participant) using a tape recorder. Interviews were conducted in Arabic and full Arabic transcripts were made of each interview. In order to preserve the meaning of the interviewees’ words, particularly given the nature of the topic (Islamic finance), data analysis was undertaken from the Arabic transcripts. Initial identification, coding and categorization that consisted of searching and identifying repeated themes and patterns through reading of the interview transcripts, was used to carry out the analysis of qualitative data. An open coding approach (Flick, 2009), whereby the initial coding is drawn from the data, was used. The documentary material was used to augment and provide a counterpoint to issues that are derived from the interviews.

After selecting the case study and arranging access, the researcher should adopt the following procedure.

Preparation

Preparation is the first and principal step. The researcher should start with the research question in order to specify as clearly as possible the issues which need to be addressed. Reviewing the literature to form the research question will lead to the shaping of the research design, including the research methods and even the methodology (Ryan et al., 2002).

Collecting the evidence

A preparatory review of theory will give an early indication of the kinds of data that should be looked for in the case study. There are several methods of collecting data and these could involve the following:

1- Physical artifacts. 2- Questionnaires. 3- Interviews.

4- Observing actions and meetings. 5- Documentation.

All evidence collected by the researcher should be recorded for analysis (Ryan et al., 2002).

The main method of collecting data in this research was the semi-structured interview, for which preparation is the key to success. Saunders et al. (2009) suggested the following points for conducting successful interviews.

- The interviewer should consider what will be the main focus of the in-depth interview, and what the topics he wishes to explore are.

- The interviewer should think about the information that he will send to the interviewees before the interview.

Recording interviews

Saunders et al. (2009) suggested some advantages and disadvantages of audio recording:

Advantages of audio recording Saunders et al. (2009)

- It will help the interviewer to focus on questioning and listening. - The interviewer can listen again to the interview later.

- It will help the interviewer to collect correct and unbiased recorded data. - It allows the researcher to use direct quotes.

- The data is permanent and may be used by other researchers.

Disadvantages of audio recording Saunders et al. (2009)

- The interviewee may sometimes lose his original conversational capabilities, thus reducing the reliability of the data.

- There is the possibility of encountering technical problems.

- Transcription of the audio recording can be time-consuming.

Transcript policy

As mentioned earlier in this chapter, the researcher made transcripts of all of the interviews

In this study, data collection and analysis were all conducted by the researcher. The data gathered were preserved in textual form, as digital recordings, and in the form of documents. In addition, some notes were taken during the interviews.

Translated quotations, taken from the interview transcriptions, were used to support the findings. The following procedure was adopted in order to ensure the validity of the translations:

1-the researcher produced verbatim transcriptions of all of the recorded interviews in the Arabic language.

2- He then used various quotations to support the findings.

3-the researcher translated the quotations from Arabic to English.

4-then gave the original Arabic to a professional translator to double check the validity of the translation.

5.7.1 Data analysis process

The qualitative data analysis in this study can be described as follows:

a) All interviews were audio-recorded digitally in order that transcriptions could be made. Afterwards, interview notes were written up by the researcher, based on verbatim notes taken in the interviews.

b) Verbatim transcriptions of the whole of the recorded interviews were made in Arabic.

c) Repeated cycles of reading and review of the transcribed data (in Arabic), collected during the in-depth interviews, were undertaken.

d) In order to produce a rich understanding of the data the identification of themes was undertake in Arabic. The themes were afterwards translated into English. e) Patterns and relationship were identified after studying all of the interview

transcripts. In this step the researcher evaluated and examined the relationships between these patterns and categories and the question being explored.

f) The next step was the identification of links between different data contexts. Many differences, common patterns, and anomalies that were present in the data were identified.

g) The researcher interpreted the meanings of the data and the implications for the research question being explored.