How to analyse qualitative data

Qualitative data is information that captures people's views, emotions, thoughts, and attitudes. Analysing qualitative data allows you to draw meaningful insights and discover patterns and relationships in your evidence.
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Analysing and reporting on qualitative data can be time consuming and feel daunting. This guidance sets out the steps you’ll need to take.  

It covers:

  • How to organise and clean your data
  • The different types of qualitative analysis
  • Setting up a coding framework
  • Adding codes to your data
  • Organising your codes into themes
  • Data saturation
  • Reporting your data
  • How and when to use direct quotes

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Qualitative guidance