Analysis »
Developing an Analytical Lens
Open and focused coding lay the groundwork for writing up the research findings. While the researcher could explore unlimited topics, an analytical lens is imperative for creating an interesting paper. Analytical questions (link) facilitate crisp thinking and sophisticated insights. In contrast, descriptive questions (link) lead to a descriptive paper, which consists of the, often dull, laundry list type of account. One should also stay away from ‘why’ questions because the qualitative approach is not designed to prove causal relationships. Because the data cannot substantiate claims of causality, the answers to "why" questions are mostly speculation and assertion.
| Descriptive Questions | Analytical Questions | "Why" Questions |
| What are the recurrent patterns? | What do the recurrent patterns mean? Under what conditions have the patterns occurred? How do the patterns complicate common sense understandings or sociological theory? | Why do the recurrent patterns occur? What causes them to occur? |
| What are the multiple layers of meanings? | How do multiple layers of meanings play out? Are there any tensions or interconnections between interpretations of the situation? If so, what does it mean? | Why are there multiple layers of meanings? What causes them to occur? |
| What variations are there? What interconnections are there? What exceptions to the rule are there? | What do the variations, interconnections and exceptions to the rule mean? How do they complicate previous understandings? | Why are there variations, interconnections and exceptions to the rule? What causes the variations, interconnections and exceptions to the rule? |