Qualitative_data_analysis

180 QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS
Figure 12.2 Association and linking as mutually related means of establishing connections
them. The conceptual identification of links provides a basis for identifying
connections between events, but subject to empirical confirmation through regular
association between them. At the extremes, as our T’ai-chi T’u suggests, we may rely
almost entirely on one rather than another—but for the most part, establishing
connections depends on elements of both approaches.
Let us return to our analysis of humour, and consider each of these approaches in
turn, starting with inference from the association of categories.
CONNECTING THROUGH ASSOCIATION
Suppose we suspect a relationship holds between two of our categories. Let us take
‘temperament’ and ‘suffering’ as examples. For simplicity’s sake, let us question
whether there is a causal relationship between these categories, such that episodes
where Vincent (or another dentist) displays an artistic temperament result in
‘suffering’ being inflicted on the patient. We see intimations of this already in the
first letter, where Vincent seems excited by his aesthetic.achievement (we could argue
that his language betrays his excitement) with the bridge, while his antipathy to Mrs
Sol Schwimmer leads to the rather aggressive outburst ‘I could smash her’. His
patient, as we have seen, suffers in several ways as a result of his attentions. Can we find
similar examples in the data?
Suppose we have categorized the data under the two categories: ‘temperament’ and
‘suffering’, restricting the first to dental displays of artistic temperament, and the
second to the experience of suffering by dentists or patients. Once the data has been
categorized, we can no longer observe directly how these categories might be