Qualitative_data_analysis

Table 15.3 Distribution of responses by case
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How strong is that pattern? If we look at the frequency and distribution of these
examples, we find a reasonable spread across the data, with no concentration in
particular cases (Table 15.3). ‘Active’ and ‘passive’ responses are woven through the
letters, with only the final letter making no reference to patient response at all.
While this suggests a gender-stereotyping pattern is woven through the letters, if
we look at the data in terms of patients rather than responses, we find the picture is
not quite so clear. For example, three of the six examples of ‘passive’ responses
amongst women relate to one patient, Claire Memling. We also find that in the case
of two patients, Claire Memling and Mrs Schwimmer, initial passivity eventually
turns into an ‘active’ response. That leaves only two examples, Mrs Zardis and Mrs
Fetelman, where female patients (and not just their response) are unambiguously
‘passive’.
Nevertheless, the balance of evidence does suggest a gender-stereotyping pattern
of responses. The most clear-cut and dramatic examples in the data all tend to
confirm this pattern, while as we have seen the negative evidence is less clear-cut and
dramatic. Overall, we may reasonably conclude that Woody Allen has portrayed a
gender-stereotyped view in his depiction of patient responses.
Although this example refers to very little data, the principles involved can easily
be applied to more extensive data, without unduly extending the length of the
analysis. Obviously the more data is involved, however, the more we may have to
select and summarize the data, while still providing sufficient information to
validate our interpretations. Unfortunately, the technological limitations of
traditional forms of publication impose constraints which mean we cannot
reproduce the interactive environment of a computer-based account. Ideally, we
should be able to link summaries to databits, and databits to context, so that at any
time readers can check for themselves the validity of our interpretations by accessing
the original data in context. If accounts were stored on disk, the reader could have