Qualitative_data_analysis

Figure 11.11 Conditional and causal links in the tale of Kaufman and Tonnato
LINKING DATA 175
events. In this way, linking can be used to establish connections between the
different elements in a singularity.
Another aim in linking data is to provide an empirical basis for connecting
categories. When we look for possible relationships between categories, we can do so
on the basis of our observations of links between the databits. Each time we link two
databits, we also connect the categories assigned to those databits. For example, in
linking Vincent’s bridge building and Mrs Sol Schwimmer’s suing, we also connect
the categories assigned to the former with the categories assigned to the latter.
Returning to our interest in the connection between incongruous and cathartic
humour, we can identify various examples where these two types of humour are
connected through links we can observe in the data. Figure 11.12 shows two
examples from the out-doors incident we have just discussed.
Note that the two links differ, one being conditional and the other causal. You
may recall that in our earlier discussion, we opted for explanatory rather than causal
links between the episodes discussed by Vincent in his first letter. Each of these
different links nevertheless connects the categories which we have used to explore
incongruous and cathartic humour. Whether incongruous actions and events
condition, cause or explain cathartic humour, exemplified in the various modes of
suffering inflicted on patients, we have here some further evidence that there may be
a connection between the two (Figure 11.13).
Some of the links are between transpositions of task and patient suffering, while
others are between transpositions of temperament and patient suffering. This
underlines an important point about the open-ended relationship between linking
data and connecting categories.