Writing Qualitative Dissertation Findings Pdf

Posted by admin
  1. Qualitative Findings And Analysis Dissertation Example
  2. Writing Qualitative Dissertation Findings Pdf Template
  3. Sample Qualitative Dissertation

How do you present your findings (qualitative)?When crafting your findings, the first thing you want to think about is how you will organize your findings. Your findings represent the story you are going to tell in response to the research questions you have answered.

Thus, you will want to organize that story in a way that makes sense to you and will make sense to your reader. You want to think about how you will present the findings so that they are compelling and responsive to the research question(s) you answered.

Qualitative Findings And Analysis Dissertation Example

These questions may not be the questions you set out to answer but they will definitely be the questions you answered. You may discover that the best way to organize the findings is first by research question and second by theme. There may be other formats that are better for telling your story. Once you have decided how you want to organize the findings, you will start the chapter by reminding your reader of the research questions. You will need to differentiate between is presenting raw data and using data as evidence or examples to support the findings you have identified. Here are some points to consider:. Your findings should provide sufficient evidence from your data to support the conclusions you have made.

Chapter 4 for Qualitative Research carries different titles such as 'Analysis of Data', 'Results of Study', 'Analysis and Results' and so forth. The key words are 'analysis' and 'results' which implies that you have 'analysed' the raw data and presenting the 'results' or what you discovered in this Chapter.

The following are some possible 'mess ups' which is not an exaggeration and does happen:. You have spent so much time collecting and analysing data but do a poor job of reporting the results. You may under-report despite having collected large amounts of data. Do not sell yourself short!. Alternatively, after collecting all the data, your presentation of the results lack organisation and clarity.

Your reader struggles trying to figure out what the heck you have written in this Chapter. You may have done a good job writing Chapter 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 with such clarity and make a mess of Chapter 4. Gee, what a waste!It has been suggested that Chapter 4 should 'stand alone' meaning that you could ask a friend to read it and she would what you discovered in you study without have to read Chapters 1 to 3. How about that! Can you do that?

To be able to 'stand alone', Chapter 4 should be aligned to the purpose of the study, the research questions, why the study was important, how it connects to the underlying theories, literature review and reflective of the conceptual framework. Chapter 4 is the culmination of your study and represents you best thinking and how you answered the research question you had posed.Chapter 4 Qualitative Research is less structured compared to Chapter 4 Quantitative Research. There is no one style for reporting the findings for Qualitative Research and you may choose from an assortment of styles to tell your 'story' in an organised and interesting manner. According to Wolcott (1990), 'writing well is neither a luxury nor an option.it is absolutely essential' (p.13) for qualitative research. Qualitative research generates rich information and deciding where to focus is very challenging.

This is what Ronald Chenail had to say:'I believe that the data, which have been painfully collected, should 'be the star' in the relationship. By this I mean, the main focus in qualitative research is the data itself, in all its richness, breadth, and depth. When all is said and done, the 'quality' in a qualitative research project is based upon how well you have done at collecting quality data. So, it only seems natural that when it comes time to present 'the fruits of your labor,' you should make every effort to feature the data in your presentations' (Presenting Qualitative Data. The Qualitative Report, 2(3). Note that 'body' is not a sub-heading but rather it is main part of Chapter 4.

It is suggested that you begin with the demographics of your subjects, informants or participants explaining the age, gender or relevant information about the sample. You could also present it in the form of tables.Then you begin telling about your findings which you can organise according to the research questions or you may approach the chapter according to the significance of the themes or categories that emerged from analysis of the data. There is no single way to present the findings because it depend on your research design.Verbatim quotes are used to support your arguments. Verbatim quotations (spoken word) or extracts are often used interchangeably and are passages taken from interviews (one-to-one) or focus group.

Anne Croden and Roy Sainsbury (2006) in study involving several qualitative researchers identified the following reasons for using verbatim quotations in reporting qualitative data:. just like statistical data, verbatim quotations provide evidence for interpretation made by the researcher - i.e. Shows how the findings emerged from the data which is an 'audit trail' that strengthens credibility (one of the components of trustworthiness). Qualitative researchers have to work hard at justifying their findings so that is does not appear to be unscientific or subjective. verbatim quotations are used to explain how something happened - understand why people had particular views or perspectives; behaved in a certain way, how they constructed something. verbatim quotations to illustrate a particular theme.

Writing

verbatim quotations used to deepen understanding, i.e. The strength of their views or depth of feelings; or their passivity and lack of engagement. verbatim quotations used to provide a voice for informants; i.e. Empower people to give their own views or express their feelings or beliefs.

verbatim quotations to enhance readability; i.e. To provide colour, vividness and even humour to keep the reader focused.

Ronald Chenail (1995) has an interesting way of describing how to write-up qualitative data. He suggests maintaining a 'rhythm' when talking about your data. By rhythm, he means creating a template for 're-presenting' your data so that there is a recognisable pattern throughout Chapter 4 which is identified by the reader.

EXAMPLE # 1: Children's Ability to Discriminate Among Food TypesThe Verbatim Quotation:'My mother says drink juice because it's healthy and she says if you don't drink it you won't get healthy and you won't have any sweets and you'll end up having to go to hospital if you don't eat anything like vegetables because you'll get weak'. (Girl, age 11 years).Explanation by the Researcher:The interviews demonstrated that children are able to differentiate and discriminate between different types of food effortlessly. Also their ability to discriminate types of food and drinks was both sophisticated and complex, incorporating positive and negative notions relating to food and its health and social consequences. EXAMPLE # 2: Adults Learners Opinions on Doing a Bachelors DegreeThe Verbatim Quotation:I feel better and more confident among my colleagues who are degree holders (Robbie, age 32)My self-esteem got better. I am now able to talk with all kinds of people more bravely. (Zalina, age 40 years).I am proud of myself that I can do this and has given me courage to talk with others in my office (Swee Leong age 32')Explanation by the Researcher:Various statements by informants highlight the significance of self-confidence when interacting with people attributed to pursuing a degree.

Writing Qualitative Dissertation Findings Pdf Template

Example

Sample Qualitative Dissertation

Self-confidence is interpreted as being able to do new things or doing things better than before. Self-confidence is mostly exemplified by the ability to communicate.