ABSTRACT
Clarke refers to qualitative analysis as an intuitive, personal journey for the researcher in which meanings 'emerge' from the data as themes, and categories. The intention of the analysis was to try to understand participants' experiences of spirituality as a resource for coping with loss. Listening to audiotape recording of an interview while reading the transcript also provided the opportunity to note the manner of the participant's response against what was heard on the recording, such as laughter, sighs and thoughtful pauses. The interview process gave almost all participants cause for thought to the extent that they appeared thoughtful, or moved, or near tears at some point in the session. Most participants had shared something very personal that they had not shared, or would not normally share. Interpretative analysis rests on the belief that human action is inherently meaningful.
