Dissertation - World Federation of Music Therapy

in terms of differences between pre-test, post-test and follow up, and effects over
time.
4.6 Data analysis: The qualitative investigation
The data collected for analysis include:
• Qualitative interviews with the 6 participants (recorded on mini-disc and
transcribed, appendix 6.4).
• Mini-disc recordings of the music travels: Of the total 60 travels 3 were verbal
sessions without music, or with music used for relaxation only; 4 sessions
were not recorded (by accident). The total number of recorded sessions was
thus 53. In some cases (but not systematically) the induction and/or the
postlude is also recorded.
• Therapist’s transcripts of the music travels: 57 transcripts (+ notes on the 3
verbal sessions).
• Therapist’s session notes (with minor revisions and amendments made by the
researcher after listening to the 53 recordings) of all 60 sessions. The notes are
presented in a 5 columns format: Name and date; Notes on prelude -> Focus;
Induction used; Music selections used; Summary of the imagery related to the
music selections + notes on postlude and mandala (if any). (See appendix 8.2
for examples of the format.)
The interview recordings were transcribed by the researcher (App. 6.4.1-6; four only
in Danish, two also translated into English) and analyzed according to principles of
Grounded Theory research. (Creswell 1995; Robson 2002; Smeijsters 1997; Strauss &
Corbin 1995) Grounded theory was chosen as a method for deducing themes, and
building theory, and as there are no existing theories to explain how cancer survivors
might benefit from BMGIM, Grounded theory was the preferred method of analysis
for the content analysis. Grounded theory aims at creating an ideographic theory that
fits the specific context. The steps in the research process can be described in this way
(Smeijsters 1997):
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• Exploration (1. registration of data, 2. analysis of data and formulation of
concepts, 3. peer review).