Writing for qualitative

research
Writing a Qualitative report

2
 Writing qualitative report

Qualitative research generates rich information-

thus deciding where to focus and the level of
sharing is very challenging.

http://www.psy.dmu.ac.uk/michael/qual_writing.htm

3
 Getting Ready to Write

• Must come close to the point of maturation

– Be aware of resource constraints and sponsors
interests

• Organize your materials

– List of codes
– Summary device: Tables, thematic structure

• Writing a chronicle (“writing it out of your head”)

4
 Choosing a Style and Focus
• Format
• Research report
• Scientific research article
• Report to donor
• Field report
• Evaluation report...
• Focus
– Academic: conceptual framework/theories,
methodology and interpretation
– Practitioners: Concrete suggestions for better practice,
policy recommendations
– Lay readers: Problem solving, reform on
practice/policy
5
 Variations in the Report Format

• Problem-solving approach (problem-based)

• Narrative approach (chronological)

• Policy approach (evidence-based)

• Analytic approach (Theory/conceptual

framework based)

6
 Reporting Qualitative Research

• Typically use quotes from data

– Descriptive
– Direct link with data
– Credibility

• Ways to use quotes

– Illustrative
– Range of issues
– Opposing views

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 Reporting without Quotes

• List range of issues

• Rank or sequence issues
• Describe types of behaviour, strategies, experiences
• Report proportions (most, many, the majority)
• Flow diagrams: decision-making, event sequencing etc

8
 Interpretation
• Interpretation is the act of identifying and explaining the
core meaning of the data
• Organizing and connecting emerging themes, sub-themes
and contradictions to get the bigger picture-what it all
means
– Think how best to integrate data from multiple sources
and methods
• Make generalization-providing answers to questions of
social and theoretical significance
• Ensuring credible or trustworthy interpretations

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 Figure 4.1 The research ‘onion’
Source: © Mark Saunders, Philip Lewis and Adrian Thornhill 2006

MANG6129 Slide 10
 Standard Report Format
1. Introduction
– Literature review
– Purpose of the study
– Brief description of the study
• Who did the study, where and when
• Description of relevant cultural and contextual information
2. Methods: study design, sampling method, data collection method,
data analysis methods
3. Results: Presentation, interpretation, relate to relevant conceptual
framework, discuss methodological difficulties affecting your
results
4. Conclusion: Key findings, logical next step, implication of findings
5. Recommendations: Relate to policy or practice
6. Acknowledgement
7. References
11
 Dissertation structure
• Title, abstract, acknowledgements, contents, etc.
• Introduction
– context, questions, structure
• Literature Review
• Methodology
– paradigm, methodology, methods, data collection
• Analysis
• Discussion
– ‘so what?’, link back to literature and question
• Summary & Conclusion
– Summary, conclusions, limitations, areas for further research
• References
• Appendices

MANG6129 Slide 12
 Bagian-bagian disertasi

• Research problem
• Theory
• Methodology
• Findings
• Discussion
• Conclusion

MANG6129
 Theory

Discussion

MANG6129
Constructing Supporting
dialectical your
arguments arguments
 Thesis.
• A formal idea, empty of content. An
idea that is separate from the messy
Constructing practicality of experience.
dialectical
arguments

The synthesis. The antithesis.

• This moves understanding of the idea
up a notch so that the contradictions
become unimportant at a higher and
more sophisticated level of
understanding.
• The practical realities that undermine
the formal idea ina practical
application.
 evidence –
selected examples
drawn from your
research material;

Supporting
your
arguments
 Introduction and objectives
• Explain the focus of the study
and its object or purpose.
• Explain why the study is
important and to whom. Define
the strategic question, if any, to
be answered.
• Explain what you want to find
out and why. Define the research
questions to be answered.
• Set the scene and describe the
context, but not in too much
detail.
Critical literature review The conceptual framework
• Identify the appropriate • Using material from the previous
academic and/or professional chapter produce working
fields of literature. definitions of the main concepts
• Describe the main themes in the you will use in your study. If
literature that are important and possible, form them into a
useful to your study. conceptual framework, theory or
• Identify the connections or hypothesis to be tested.
discontinuities between the • Sometimes it is not necessary to
themes in the literature. have this section as a separate
• Evaluate and critique the chapter. If this is the case, it can
literature. be included in the critical
literature review chapter.
• – Check whether the ideas you
wish to use are robust enough.
– Challenge the assumptions.
• – Question whether the
literature might mean
something other than it says it
means.
• Create a coherent sequence of
arguments from the themes
drawn from the literature.
The conceptual framework
methods
• Using material from the
previous chapter produce
working definitions of the
main concepts you will use
in your study.
• If possible, form them into
a conceptual framework,
theory or hypothesis to be
tested.
• Sometimes it is not
necessary to have this
section as a separate
chapter. If this is the case, it
can be included in the
critical literature review
chapter.
Research methodology and
• Discuss the nature of the
questions you are asking
and choose an appropriate
methodological stance for
answering them.
• Describe, explain and justify
the research methods you
are using.
• Describe the practical and
technical aspects of
conducting the research.
• Discuss any ethical issues
connected with the project.
Presentation and analysis of
findings recommendations
• Describe what you found
out and what it means.
• Refer back to the
literature review and your
conceptual framework. –
Use the literature to
interrogate and evaluate
your research material
and vice versa.
• Presentation and analysis
may require several
chapters, e.g.: – one
chapter for presentation
and one for analysis; or –
several chapters, each
presenting a different
case study; – and so on.
Conclusions and
• Summarise the main
argument, otherwise
known as the thesis, of
the dissertation.
• Either discuss the validity
and reliability of the
findings and arguments or
reflectively critique the
account provided in the
dissertation.
• Frame the conclusions,
and recommendations if
appropriate. Discuss any
issues concerning the
implementation of the
conclusions
 Theory

Discussion
Citation Software
 A good writing..

• Conciseness – no irrelevant material, within wordcount

• Clarity – clear meaning, no ambiguities, correct use of English

• Coherence – logical order, linked to questions

• 3rd person, past tense (usually)

MANG6129 Slide 24
 Approaches to writing

• The ‘diver’ writer

– No plan to start
– Just plunge straight in (anywhere)
– Plan as you go along
– Finished product emerges

Crème, P. and Lea, M.R. (2003). Writing at University: a guide for students, 2nd ed.,
Open University Press: Maidenhead.

MANG6129 Slide 25
 Approaches to writing

• The ‘patchwork’ writer

– Start with some headings of topics
– No clear argument
– Write under each heading
– ‘Patch’ together as you go
– Remove / move some material around

MANG6129 Crème and Lea (2003) Slide 26

 Approaches to writing

• The ‘grand plan’ writer

– Lots of time reading/thinking
– ‘Inner mind’ develops grand plan
– Write out in longhand
– Add an introduction and tidy up

MANG6129 Crème and Lea (2003) Slide 27

 Approaches to writing

• The ‘architect’ writer

– Brainstorm notes / headings
– Spider diagram / mindmap
– Links to a central overarching idea
– Start with the sections / fill in the gaps

MANG6129 Crème and Lea (2003) Slide 28

 Within text citation…
MacLeod (2004) discusses the closure of Exeter’s chemistry
department.

“Stories carry cultural values and are a part of everyday life”

(Deal and Kennedy, 2000, p.7).

The concept of ‘speed’ has been found to be important in

M&A integration (Angwin, 2004).

There are “three axioms of sound methodology” (McNeill,

1990 via Riley et al., 2000, p.18).

et al. (et alia): and others

MANG6129 Slide 29
 References

• Angwin, D. (2004), Speed in M&A Integration: The First 100 Days,

European Management Journal, Vol.22, No.4, pp.418-430.

• Deal, T. and Kennedy, A. (2000), The New Corporate Cultures: Revitalizing

the workplace after downsizing, mergers and reengineering, Texere, London.

• MacLeod, D. (2004), Senate backs Exeter closure plans, [Online]. Available:

http://education.guardian.co.uk/universitiesincrisis/story/0,12028,1364586,00.
html [2010, December 2].

• Riley, M., Wood, R.C., Clark, M.A., Wilkie, E. and Szivas, E. (2000),
Researching and Writing Dissertations in Business and Management,
Thomson Learning: London.

MANG6129 Slide 30
 Plagiarism – Academic Integrity

• Plagiarism is not giving appropriate credit to other people for

their words and ideas

• … includes ‘recycling’ your own work

• Sanctions for plagiarism

• Ease of plagiarising from the internet

• Be aware of cultural differences

• Computer resources for detecting plagiarism

MANG6129 Maylor and Blackmon (2005) Slide 31

 Project planning

• Research topic and proposal

• Risk and ethics approval
• Literature review
• Gain access to data
• Data collection (design, pilot?, collection)
• Data analysis and interpretation
• Write up (Chapter 1, 2, 3, etc)
• Meetings with supervisor
• Holidays/travel
• … etc, etc, etc…

MANG6129 Slide 32
 Project planning

MANG6129 Maylor and Blackmon (2005) Slide 33

 Your supervisor’s role
• ‘Process’ vs ‘content’ supervision

• Plan for six meetings, ends on 31st July…

• Comment on :
– The suitability and scope of dissertations

– The development of an appropriate project structure

– Ensuring adequacy of source material

– Feedback on some draft material

MANG6129 Slide 34
 Your role in the dissertation

• It’s your project

• Develop the research topic / proposal

• Secure necessary resources

• Meet self-imposed deadlines

• Arrange meetings with your supervisor

• Do the research and write it up

MANG6129 Slide 35
 Overcoming problems…
• Asymmetric findings
• Stress
• Crisis of confidence
• Lack of motivation
• Problems with data
• Poor planning
• Supervisor relationship
• Peer pressure (or not!)
• Lack of focus
• Etc. etc.

MANG6129 Slide 36
 More resources…

• Generic Academic Skills

– http://www.studyskills.soton.ac.uk/
– Note: this is now available via Blackboard – also a dissertation toolkit is
available there.

• Online guide to research methods

– http://www.erm.ecs.soton.ac.uk/index.htm

• Online Qualitative Data Analysis (extensive range of resources)

– http://onlineqda.hud.ac.uk/index.php

MANG6129 Slide 37