Conclusion

I have presented qualitative data analysis as a logical sequence of steps, from our first encounters with the data through to the problems of producing an account (Figure 16.1). This sequence reflects the logical relationship between different phases in the analytic process. We cannot categorize or link data unless we have first read and annotated it; we cannot connect categories unless we have first categorized and linked the data; we cannot produce an account without first categorizing and linking the data.