oa Van datapaniek naar Marokkanenpaniek

Large qualitative data collections can cause ‘data panic’ among qualitative researchers when reaching the stage of analysis. They often find it difficult to get a grip on such large data sets and to find a method of analysis that is both systematic and pragmatic and that can help them with this. In this article, I describe how I used a deductive and inductive method of analysis to get a grip on a large qualitative data collection (consisting of different formats) and how qualitative data analysis software facilitated this. This data reduction method consists of three stages: (1) deductive and inductive coding in Atlas.ti; (2) pattern coding in code groups and networks in Atlas.ti; and (3) reporting on the findings by transforming the networks into written text. This method is useful for researchers from all disciplines who want to analyze large qualitative data collections systematically, but at the same time do not want to drown in rigid methodological protocols that neutralize the creativity, reflexivity and flexibility of the researcher.