The Complexity of Rich Data
Rich interview data are necessarily complex. In the first place, rich data are dense. So much so that the researcher may feel overwhelmed by the abundance of details. Another challenge to making sense of the data is that factual errors, inconsistencies, gaps of knowledge and apparent contradictions frequently arise in respondents' accounts. This is to be expected. Complexity in the data can make for a balanced, nuanced analysis in the end, which compellingly reflects the complexity of social life.
Sources of Complexity and Contradiction
- The Complexity of Memory
- Simplification as a Source of Contradiction
- The Use of Negative Cases and Unexpected Findings