Transforming Qualitative Data

Description, Analysis, and Interpretation

The process of analyzing qualitative data and producing a complete study is discussed in this book. Breaking down the transformation process into description, analysis and interpretation, Harry Wolcott discusses these three related activities. To illustrate them, he critically analyzes his own work, using nine of his previous studies as examples. He concludes by examining how to learn and teach qualitative research using these principles.

working on socially sensitive issues in AIDS research pointed out, the risk of
being sued is greatly diminished when one sticks to analysis. Computers are
good allies under such constraints; they do not propose interpretations. Most
often the term analysis is preceded by a qualifying adjective. Some designated
analyses are hopelessly broad, pointing as they do with an elbow instead of a
finger: comparative analysis, computer analysis, cultural analysis, illuminative
analysis, logical ...