From Analyzed to Published Qualitative Data

Hello Qualitative Mind,

Today’s blog post is a summary of the Facebook Live I did on March 31st, 2020 where I talked about strategies to help you move from analyzed data to writing paragraphs for a manuscript or thesis chapter. I basically covered three strategies, including one that I have heard from book authors but have yet to try myself.

Strategy#1: Build a model, figure, or animation that illustrates your results. I have done this for most of my qualitative projects as it works super well for my brain, being the visual person that I am. Once I finish data analysis, I try to come up with a visual (usually on PowerPoint) that captures the main theme(s) and key categories I found. This step tends to naturally happen if I present my research results in a conference poster or oral session prior to writing a paper or thesis chapter.

Strategy #2: Audio record yourself explaining/describing your results This is the strategy I have yet to try! I have heard some book authors, who publish with a high frequency, say that they commonly audio record chapters and get them transcribed for editing. Then -BOOM- there is a book chapter. There are some inexpensive transcription tools out there, especially if it is only one person talking. If this strategy seems to meet your style of talking things out before taking additional action, it might be worth trying. 

Strategy #3: Write your results in bullet points first. Started is better than perfect, and we all need to start somewhere. If you have a hard time writing full paragraphs right off the bat, start with bullet points. You can then move them around and work on sentences that will link ideas, connect paragraphs, and transition between ideas. 

How about participants’ quotes? Quotes bring life to qualitative writing and can be very powerful. I always use them in presentations and publications, yet I am careful not to overuse them. What I mean is, the quotes you select to include in your writing do not stand alone as your results. They need to be contextualized, described, and/or interpreted (depending on your qualitative method). In other words, you should not rely on your quotes to tell your readers about your qualitative research results. You have a role in telling that story and showcasing your participants’ voices, narratives and experiences.

I hope these strategies and insights help you move forward with writing your qualitative results. If finding time to write or creating a writing routine are the main issues you currently face, I highly recommend joining“I Should Be Writing” on Facebook. Dr. Mazak has a lot of expertise in supporting academic writing. 

Talk soon,

Maira Quintanilha