Qualitative_data_analysis

Figure 15.5 Different writing strategies—sequential and dialectical
PRODUCING AN ACCOUNT 257
dialectic between the sequential reasoning of sentence construction and the holistic
logic of structuring the document overall.
In Figure 15.5 I try to convey the difference between this and an orthodox
writing strategy for a document with four sections. In practice, the computer does
not require us to adopt one particular strategy but lets us shift backwards and
forwards between them.
Finally, the computer can also aid our writing in more pragmatic ways. Providing
we invest in learning the necessary skills, the keyboard is much quicker than pen and
paper. Depending on our software, it may also support a range of facilities for
checking spelling, numbering sections and pages, creating tables, inserting graphics,
indexing and the like which all improve the efficiency and effectiveness with which
we can produce an account of our analysis. The computer saves us time, though this
may not mean we spend less time at the computer. Its facilities allow us to do things
we otherwise would not contemplate. But if we spend as much time producing our
account as before, that time is likely to be spent much more productively.
PRODUCING AN ACCEPTABLE ACCOUNT
We have to produce an account which is acceptable as well as accessible. What is
acceptable will depend on the purpose of our account and the nature of the
audience. The requirements of a doctoral thesis differ from those of an academic
journal, or a research report for a policy-making agency. The first step in producing
an acceptable account is to clarify these requirements and ensure that the style,
structure and substance of our account meet them successfully (Dixon et al. 10987:
216). While the length, format and substance of our account will vary according to