Paper Example on Framework and Case Study Approach for Qualitative Data Analysis in Research

Introduction

The framework approach for analysis and management of qualitative data have been used in research for many decades since the 1980s (Gale, Heath, Cameron, Rashid, & Redwood, 2013). The approach was initially designed to assist in the large-scale policy research but has increasingly been adopted in the medical among other fields. On the other end, the case study methodology is also used in analyzing qualitative data during research (Silverman, 2000). For instance, in the healthcare field, if used appropriately, it could be a critical tool in exploring complex topics as it helps in developing theories, interventions, and evaluate programs (Gomm, Hammersley, & Foster, 2000). The case study approach helps the research to study a problem by using multiple sources of data which ensures that a concept is scrutinized from various lenses, which assist all the aspects of the topic to be understood comprehensively (Baxter & Jack, 2008 and Perry, 1998). Both the Framework Analysis and Case Study Methodology are useful tools for conducting qualitative research from various fields. However, their philosophical underpinnings, strengths and limitation should be a crucial consideration to ensure they will help in exhaustively studying the desired phenomena.

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The Underlying Philosophy/ Epistemological Orientation of the Methodology of Framework Analysis in Qualitative Data and Qualitative Research

Framework analysis has continued to gain popularity in the various fields of qualitative study such as cross-cultural management (Smith & Firth, 2011). Factors that can be attributed to this popularity include the underlying philosophies and epistemological orientations associated with this methodology (Yeganeh, Su, & Chrysostome, 2014). According to John Creswell (2018), most qualitative researches develop an informed base of the theories and philosophies that guide their studies and extensively explain and use them in their works. This view implies that when a researcher decides to use the framework analysis in qualitative data and qualitative research, he or she must have accepted its underlying philosophies and epistemological orientations (Creswell, 2018 and Ward, Furber, Tierney, & Swallow, 2013). The epistemological orientations help the researcher in getting closer to the participants of the study.

As a constituent of the thematic analysis, framework analysis shares the philosophical orientation of identifying similarities and variances in qualitative data, before concentrating on relations between different parts of the data (Gale et al., 2013). This way, it becomes easy and accurate to conclude the qualitative data based on various themes. Epistemological orientation shapes and defines the researcher's standpoint of the world and reality (Yeganeh et al., 2014). For this reason, the methodology of framework analysis can be based on understanding the leadership and the management of an organization based on "case" analysis of qualitative data (Symon & Cassel, 1998).

Framework analysis uses a pre-determined set of objectives to shape its data collection methodology. The researcher collects data primarily using three primary methods: participant observation, focus groups, and interviews (Srivastava & Thomson, 2009 and Duggleby, 2005). All these three approaches are the first steps of getting to understand the participants of the study in framework analysis. The data collection is more structured compared to other qualitative researches (Srivastava & Thomson, 2009 and Furber, 2010). Another epistemological orientation of the methodology is the explicit and strongly informed nature of framework analysis due to prior-reasoning (Srivastava & Thomson, 2009). Further, framework methodology is efficient for thematic analysis of textual data where the researcher compares and contrasts data collected according to different themes across various cases of the study (Gale et al., 2013 and Harling, 2012). All these philosophies and the epistemological orientations of the methodology are aimed at making the researcher define, get closer, and understand better the research participants as a way of enhancing data collection and interpretation.

Case Study Analysis Philosophical Underpinnings

The philosophical underpinning of case study analysis were based on the constructivist paradigm by Yin (2003) and Stake (1995). The constructivist's believes that truth is relative and that it depends on a person's perspective (Baxter & Jack, 2008). The paradigm acknowledges the significance of the subjective human for creating meaning. However, the concept does not deny the outright idea of objectivity. Thus, constructivism is built on the ideas social construction of the reality. Thus, this paradigm ensures that there is a close collaboration between the researcher and respondents, while at the same time the participant is allowed to share personal experiences about the topic of study. The stores shared by the responds is the channel for sharing personal views and reality of the matters which helps the researcher to comprehend the actions of the participants. Thus according to Yin (2003) case study approach could be used in various circumstances. First, when the focus of the research is to establish answers for questions that are based on "how and why." Secondly, when the research cannot manipulate the behaviors of the responds. Thirdly, when the research is seeking to explore the existential conditions due to the fact that they are a critical element in the study area. Fourth, when the boundaries separating context and phenomena are not clearly defined. Sometimes it could be a challenge to determine whether the use of case study is appropriate for particular research since the research need establish the question of study and type of case study approach. This is a critical challenge for both novice and seasoned researcher thus, through considerations are needed to avoid making mistakes by using a wrong case in exploring a research topic. Nevertheless the research could ask him/herself various questions to enhance the capacity for determining the appropriate case to use in the study. First, the research could ask "do I want to analyze the person? Do I want to analyze the program? Do I want to analyze the process or the different between organizations? The process of answering these questions alongside engaging a colleague could be a reliable option to help the researcher describe the case. For example, in question such as how do women in their 40s who have had breast cancer determine whether they would like to undergo breast reconstruction. Thus, in this question the case would be decision making for women between the age of 40 and 50 years who have experienced breast cancer. However, the researcher may decide not to focus on the decision making process for such women but consider their experiences with breast cancer. In the first consideration it would be about the entire group and their decision making while in the second context it would be an analysis of individual woman in the group with the breast cancer condition. Being clear about the type of case study, make it easier to avoid answering a broad question but narrowing to particular concern thus making a quality and informative qualitative study.

Types of Data in Framework Analysis

Framework analysis of qualitative data and qualitative research relies on data collected from three main methods. First is the participant observation, which is a process of data collection where the researcher observes the study group or is a participant of the observation (Srivastava & Thomson, 2009). Second is focus groups; this is where a group of six to eight people is brought together to discuss a particular incidence which both of them experienced (Srivastava & Thomson, 2009). Lastly, interviews are typically a one-on-one face interaction and conversation between the participant and the researcher (Fontana & Frey, 2005).

Focused groups is a critical source of data for the framework analysis methodology. The researcher can obtain respondents audiotapes, also the moderator and his or her assistant can take notes, and recall items during the process of data collection (Onwuegbuzie et al., 2009). Moreover, the notes recorded by the moderator alongside his/her assistant moderator from the respondents could be classified as textual data (Pope, 2000). Videotapes of the participants illustrating a particular occurrence is another type of data collected from a focus group (Baxter & Jack, 2008). All these data are qualitative and thus relevant to framework analysis.

Type of Data in Case Study Approach

The type of data depends on the source that is used for its collection. For instance, data that has been obtained via interviews is known as interview data. The defining features of case study approach is its use of multiple sources of data that is analyzed when researching on a topic. For most cases studies the primary sources of data will be interview of the participants. Observational data is obtained by interacting with individuals in their natural settings. For instance, if the researcher is interested in understand the behaviors of nurses while handing patients it would be appropriate to visit them at the healthcare facility. Observations are different from the notes taken during interviews. According to Skate (1995), interviews are guides by the researcher, while observations involves the taking of notes and documenting unguided naturally occurring events. Another type of case study data is document review, which include newspaper articles, reports, pamphlets, and correspondences among other sources that addresses the cases under research (Noor, 2008). For instance, by using the nursing example above reviewing the documents that reflects the patient's satisfaction with the treatment they receive. However, it is critical to understand that the journal articles that are used in the literature review are not considered as part of data. The research topic and particular case of study will determine the types of observations and the types of documents to review. Moreover, personal experiences will also be critical in determining the kinds of data to be collected to provide the information needed in answering the research question. Finally it is important to understand the number of data source needed for the study. Most of the case studies requires at least two to three sources of data.

The research questions in framework analysis methodology and case study approach

The framework analysis methodology is best adopted to the research that addresses specific question due to the limited study duration and priori issues among other (Srivastava & Thomson, 2009). According to Ritchie & Spencer (1994), framework analysis have four types of research questions (Rowley, 2002). First the questions that identifies the form and nature of what is existent for instance, exploring the experiences of men undergoing treatment for alcohol addiction. Second, the research questions that explores the reason or cause for what exists for example exploring the limiting factors for adolescents struggling with addiction from seeking professional support. Third, are the evaluative research questions which examines the effectiveness of what is existing for instance, evaluating the effectives of mental health assessment tools and way they can be improved to enhance the results. Finally, the strategic research questions which aims to identify new theories, policies, and actions (Rowley, 2002). For instance, identifying the effectiveness of community based interventions for mental health patients. Thus, the researcher should determine th...