Qualitative Data Analysis (Interviews)

Qualitative method includes interviews as well as observation, case studies, and ethnographic research. Qualitative data collection and analysis uses an inductive approach towards obtaining information from the research participant and, entails a subjective,

informal, interactive, emergent process (Sukamolson, 2010). Qualitative research focuses on manifest (visible, obvious) and latent (underlying meaning) content, developing categories through induction (Burla, et al., 2008). Baylor et al. (2005, p. 398) describes qualitative research as study whereby:

…researchers seek to describe the common experiences as well as the range of different experiences within the group. It is understood that people will have multiple perspectives on these experiences, and that each individual is the expert in how he or she interprets the meaning of the experience for himself or herself. The product of a phenomenological study is a detailed account that provides the reader with an authentic understanding of the meaning of that experience in the words of the persons who have lived that experience.

For Sukamolson (2010), the goals of qualitative research are to understand a certain phenomenon through in-depth exploration, to examine meaning of particular events and circumstances, and to discover new insights and unexpected variables in the development of new theory. Within this research, interviews were used as a means of qualitative data

collection of individual religious conversion stories. Interviews provide ‘the most suitable unit of analysis’ in a qualitative approach in order to perceive the whole of the content and context as well as its meaningful parts (words, sentences and paragraphs) (Lundman and Grandeheim, 2004, p. 106). For Sandelowski (1991, pp. 162-164), narrative stories include a

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temporal ordering of events (past, present and future), within an effort to make something out of those events in a personally, historically, and culturally coherent, plausible manner. Narratives describe life stories, contexts and significance of events, and the function certain life episodes serve in individuals’ lives. The researcher’s role was to determine ‘why something happened’ via supportable events, actions, and intentions as well as providing an adequate explanation of the narrative outcome. Within this study, the primary interview goal was to determine the main components affecting the process, motivation towards, and effect of religious conversion. In light of this objective, interview questions were formulated to find and generate data, elicit thoughts, feelings and attitudes towards their cultural, social, emotional, experiential, educational/intellectual and spiritual/religious influences in their childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. In other words, the researcher sought to provide ‘rich data’ and ‘thick descriptions’ which were ‘detailed, focused, and full, revealing participants’ views, feelings, intention, and actions as well as the contexts and structures of their lives’. As a researcher, the aim was ‘to see this world as our research participants do – from the inside’ (Charmaz, 2014, pp. 23-24).

The interviews were semi-structured based upon pre-formulated questions and in response to the prior submitted questionnaire. The interview protocol probed a broadened range of functional and/or substantive factors potentially contributing to the development of, holding, and changing of beliefs as in religious conversion through first person narrative. Specifically, questions tapped into influences guiding Atheistic belief (Atheist Stage), openness towards change (Catalyst Stage), conversion to Christianity (Conversion Stage), and life after conversion (Post-Conversion Stage). The primary researcher conducted every interview to ensure consistency of interviews. Pre-established questions were pursued with all participants, supplemented by pivotal themes, events, and circumstances as personally relevant to each person’s conversion narrative. Secondary questions were raised depending upon the nature and topics of interaction in order to allow for clarification and/or spontaneous themes to emerge. Flexibility was granted in an attempt to gain a broadened, deepened

understanding of the basic external influences which contributed to conversion as well as the participant’s internal perspectives and attitudes which were present and/or shifting

throughout the process. This adaptability permitted the researcher to follow leads that emerge, to construct new questions and follow influences as raised through the narrative.

In this study, semi-structured interviews lasted approximately 30-90 minutes in duration based upon participants’ conversational style and personality allowing for the

respondent to emphasize areas of import relative to his/her personal narrative. The researcher attended to pragmatic cues towards participants’ openness and/or reserved tendencies,

respectful of time and privilege of interaction. Data collection via interviews was conducted from September 27, 2014 through March 20, 2015, approximately six months in total. The interviews were recorded using an iPad with an ALON Dictaphone application allowing for subsequent storage and replay for transcription onto a Word document. To ensure secure storage and confidentiality, the interviews were saved on an encrypted flash drive Integral Crypto FIPS 197 and transcribed verbatim by the primary investigator. The transcribed data was transcribed into NVivo for Mac computerized software through which themes and sub- themes arising from the interviews were categorized and coded for analysis. As religious conversion is a complex phenomenon, qualitative analysis provided adequate method for comprehensive analysis of its multi-dimensional causes and processes. Within this research, individual narratives as well as common trends and redundant patterns observed among different conversions were analyzed. Qualitative analysis goals included identifying commonalities and differences among participant experiences, determining Substance and Function influences in the conversion process, and establishing patterns and themes through descriptive and inferential analysis.