De kwalitatieve datamatrix als analyse-instrument
Abstract
The qualitative data matrix as an instrument for analysis - This article presents an analytical instrument, the qualitative data matrix. It serves to improve the reliability and validity of research outcomes obtained through relatively unstructured observations or interviews, or by the qualitative analysis of documents. It is argued that systematic and verifiable research procedures enable qualitative research to be as rigorous as the best quantitative research, if all analytical steps are meticulously documented in an accessible research data bank. This data bank can be the source of reliability tests in the form of a research audit, in which an independent researcher traces all analytical steps of the original researcher in order to determine whether his or her conclusions are corroborated. The validity claim rests on a systematic and controlled reduction of rough data to analytic categories, in particular in the first steps of analysis. It is briefly explained how a qualitative data matrix can be composed and five of its functions are indicated, namely (1) giving a synopsis of main research outcomes; (2) indicating how complete the data are; (3) seeing the variety of outcomes for each of the research topics; (4) generating hypotheses on relationships in the material, to be tested on the rough material; and (5) indicating exceptional outcomes that ask for explanation.
How to Cite:
Bijlsma-Frankema, K. & Droogleever Fortuijn, E., (1997) “De kwalitatieve datamatrix als analyse-instrument”, Tijdschrift voor Sociale Wetenschappen 42(4), 448–459. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tvsw.95286
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