Qualitative_data_analysis

36 QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS
relevant to understanding, and meaning is therefore not a fixed ‘thing’ but always
subject to negotiation between observers.
It is comforting to realize that the situation I am describing has its parallel in
modern physics, where the ‘reality’ that is observed cannot be separated from the
context of the observation and the action of the observer. Space and time have
become conditional on the speed and position of the observer in relation to the events
being observed. This does not preclude or deny a reality separate from our
observations of it. But reality in physics is no longer a realm about which we can
obtain information independently of the observer. If you find this hard to believe,
imagine an astronaut watching a colleague playing darts while orbiting earth. To the
astronaut, the dart travels a few metres, while to the observer on earth it travels
several miles; and since the speed of light is constant, and light takes longer to reach
the earth observer than the astronaut, not only does the dart’s flight occur at a
different time, but also the time it takes seems shorter to the astronaut than to the
observer on earth.
However, this does not mean that observations are arbitrary. Although
observations of the same event by different observers may no longer agree,
observations are related in the sense that once an observer’s speed and position are
known in relation to the event, we can establish how that event will be seen by the
observer (Hawking 1988:22). In other words, interpretation depends on context,
but this does not preclude an objective appraisal of how events are interpreted.
Now imagine a game of darts (on earth this time) being played in the local pub,
in a TV quiz show, or in a professional darts tournament. The significance of a
throw may vary dramatically according to the contexts in which it is made. For the
amateurs in the pub, it may be no more than a bit of fun. For the contestants, it
may be an opportunity to enjoy the limelight. For the professionals, it may be
humdrum routine, or perhaps a critical turning point in their career. Although the
meaning varies according to context, if we knew the relevant contexts we could
provide an objective description of the game.
In qualitative analysis, our position and procedures parallel those of physics even
if our measurements lack a similar precision. Meaning depends on context, and has
to be related to the positions and perspectives of different observers. We can make
mistakes in attributing particular meanings to particular observers, but the biggest
mistake would be to imagine that meaning can somehow be understood
independently of the contexts in which it is observed.
INTENTIONS
Ambiguity of meaning is a pervasive characteristic of communication, most
dramatically demonstrated in the language of humour. Parody, puns, double-