Preparing for Analysis: A Practical Guide for a Critical Step for Procedural Rigor in Large-scale Multisite Qualitative Research Studies

• NCJ Number: 252562
• Journal: Quality & Quantity Volume: 52 Issue: 2 Dated: 2018 Pages: 815-828
• Author(s): Yang Yang; Jennifer Pankow; Holly Swan; Jennifer Willett; Shannon G. Mitchell; Danielle S. Rudes
• Date Published: 2018
• Length: 14 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored); Instructional Material (Programmed)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

As part of the data collection for the Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies, a national multisite research cooperative with nine research centers (RCs) conducted 700 semi-structured interviews to evaluate interorganizational strategies in three protocols focused on improving addiction- and health related service delivery in criminal justice settings.

Abstract

Despite attention to technical aspects of conducting qualitative research, few studies describe procedures for managing pre-analysis activities in large-scale multisite qualitative projects. Guided by the research cooperative, RCs in the current project collaborated on many aspects of the qualitative data activities (e.g., codebook development and coding activities); however, pre-analysis procedures, such as organizing and managing resources, were primarily managed at the RC level. This article reports on the project's examination of these various practices and describes two exemplary approaches to pre-analysis, with emphasis on lessons learned and recommendations for coordinating resources, managing data, and maintaining fidelity to the study procedures for large-scale qualitative projects. (publisher abstract modified)