period of time. Researchers use self-reflection to explore personal feelings and
experiences to minimize their biases. This is important because analysis and
interpretation are inherently subjective in qualitative research. Bracketing is
a strategy used by researchers to set aside their personal interpretations to
avoid bias.
Data reduction occurs when the researcher begins to simplify the large
amounts of data obtained from interviews and/or other sources. Terms, ideas,
or quotations from transcribed interviews are identified to help the researcher
focus on the common themes and patterns that will emerge. The researcher
attaches meanings to certain portions of the data that seem to best represent
what the majority of participants have reported. Data segments may be coded
and indexed by identifying categories in the data. Repeated words or common
ideas are noted. Computer software may be of great assistance in managing
these data and helping to assign codes, numbers, colors, or other distinguish-
ing marks to sets of data as the researcher attempts to group the data into
meaningful segments.
After the data have been reduced in some fashion, the researcher identifies
themes, patterns, and relationships. Essential to analysis and interpretation is
that the themes, categories, or patterns that are ultimately chosen to represent
the data do just that—represent what most of the participants in the study said.
In qualitative research, one must be “true to the data” and build in continuous
checks and rechecks to be certain that the labels assigned to various themes or
patterns reflect what participants have told the researcher. Often, words used
by the study participants form the basis for categories assigned.
The final phase of managing the data is interpretation. Interpretation is
critical because it brings the message of the participants to the public for
reading and application. The researcher uses interpretation to provide mean-
ings that can be used in EBP. Interpretation is open to subjectivity because
it is likely that no two researchers would interpret the
meaning of the data in exactly the same way. Cassidy
(2013) cautioned qualitative researchers to beware of
hubris, defined as overconfidence and exuberance for
one’s interpretations of the data that could potentially
influence or cloud the accuracy of conceptual develop-
ment. However, in spite of the inherent difficulties of
defending the results and analysis of qualitative research,
Sandelowski (2010) concluded that “qualitative descrip-
tive research is still interpretive” (p. 79). To establish scientific rigor, other
nurse scientists should be able to follow the paper trail and the researcher’s
analysis and to agree that the interpretation and results reported are true to
the data obtained from the participants.
KEY TERMS
bracketing: A
strategy used
by qualitative
researchers to set
aside personal
interpretations to
avoid bias
data reduction:
The simplification
of large amounts
of data obtained
from qualitative
interviews or other
sourcesFYI
The interview is frequently used as the key
source of data in qualitative research. Inter-
view questions are generally open ended,
allowing the participant to respond freely
and provide the most information possible
so that there is an abundance of data from
which to draw interpretations.9.1 What Is Qualitative Research? 227