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Chapter 3 Research Framework
the start list should have defining sentences or proposition statements. A proposition
statement is a connected set of statements that reflect the meaning of the code. This
initial start list with its initial set of codes will most likely change as the research
advances, and some initial codes from the start list may even “decay” as they fail to
become populated with appropriate data.
Data display is the next step and its aim is to identify patterns within the coded data.
According to Miles and Huberman (1994), pattern codes are explanatory codes that
pull together a lot of material into a more meaningful unit of analysis. Throughout
the analysis the researcher may make notes to themselves, and these are called
“memos”. These memos can help to tie together different pieces of data. They may
be ideas that strike the researcher while coding, and may be sentences, paragraphs or
even page-long notes. Miles and Huberman (1994) state that the reflective remarks,
marginal notes, and pattern coding all bring the analysis to a deeper level. Finally in
step 3, conclusions and verifications can be drawn.
Essentially, whichever method or approach to analysis is taken, both Morse and
Field’s (1996) and Miles and Huberman’s (1994) approaches involve reading the
data line by line, assigning codes of meaning, sorting the data into categories,
establishing relationships between codes and categories, and providing a clear
explanation of the research phenomenon.
3.9.1.1 Rationale for qualitative data analysis approach used in this study
A concept analysis was essential for this research study. This concept analysis
produced attributes, antecedents and consequences for resident autonomy; hence it
generated a “start list” of codes for analysis. Therefore the Miles and Huberman
(1994) approach for qualitative data analysis was deemed most suitable for this
study. From the initial start list the data were also re-analysed in order to ensure that
other key issues emerging from the data that were not in the initial start list were not
missed and were included.
As qualitative research may generate a large volume of data, computer database
storage software is often chosen to manage the data. An overview of the different