Qualitative_data_analysis

216 QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS
Figure 13.9 Mapping relationships for all cases
analysis. Using the computer, we can represent the scope of our categories in terms
of a standard scale, such as the average number of times we have assigned a category
to a case. This allows us to make graphic comparisons between the scope of the
different concepts employed in the analysis (Figure 13.9).
We can see that transpositions of ‘temperament’ have marginally more scope than
those of ‘occupation’. We can also see that of our subcategories of ‘suffering’ most
data have been assigned to the category ‘discomfort’, with ‘disability’ and
‘disfigurement’ figuring much less in the analysis overall than in the first of
Vincent’s letters.
So far we have only mapped out the broad outlines of our analysis, making no
attempt to differentiate, for example, between the strength and type of different
relationships. However, before we go on, let us look for a moment at other ways in
which we could map out the scope of our categories. In Figure 13.10 we have
aligned categories, producing a bar chart, so that differences in scope are more
readily apparent.
Another means of indicating scope is through overlapping shapes as in
Figure 13.11. This provides a handy way of indicating differences in scale which
might otherwise be less clear because of variations in the shape. Although the
computer can ensure that the areas within the boundaries of a circle, oval, and
rectangle (or whatever shapes are used in the analysis) are to scale, the difference in
area between different shapes may be less obvious to the reader.
We can incorporate information about the scope of our categories in our
representation of the different levels of classification in our analysis. In
Figure 13.12, for example, we can compare the scope of the central categories in our
classification of the data.