OT-ST-WS-08 | Data preparation

Contents

In the social sciences, “qualitative data” refers to various kinds of data – such as interview transcripts, observation protocols, field notes, pictures, audio or video recordings, and material artefacts – that are less structured than “quantitative data” and thus cannot – and often should not – be easily transformed into numerical relatives for statistical analysis. By contrast, qualitative data are often heterogeneous, complex, very information-rich, highly context-dependent and sensitive – thus posing particular ethical, legal and practical challenges for research data management (RDM), including data protection and informed consent, anonymization, documentation, and sharing beyond the research project of origin. This hands-on workshop aims to make participants familiar with major challenges of preparing qualitative social science data for (qualitative or quantitative) analysis and to introduce them to good practices and RDM tools to deal with those challenges. Particular attention is given to appropriate research documentation using a ‘study report’ and various context materials, and to the anonymization/pseudonymization of qualitative text data, including an introduction to the tool ‘QualiAnon’.

The following topics will be primarily addressed:

• What are qualitative data? Examples and characteristics
• Why, for Whom and How are qualitative data important?
• Producing and preparing qualitative data for research/analysis
• Focus: finding, re-using and sharing qualitative data
• Focus: documenting qualitative data and contexts
• Focus: anonymizing qualitative (text) data

Prior knowledge

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Technical requirements

Own computer with modern web browser; WiFi: Access to eduroam

Further reading

Corti, Louise; van den Eynden, Veerle; Bishop, Libby; Woollard, Matthew (2020): Managing and sharing research data: A guide to good practice. 2nd ed. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications