From Data Management to Actionable Findings: A Five-Phase Process of Qualitative Data Analysis

Abstract

This article outlines a five-phase process of qualitative analysis that draws on deductive (codes developed a priori) and inductive (codes developed in the course of the analysis) coding strategies, as well as guided memoing and analytic questioning, to support trustworthy qualitative studies. The five-phase process presented here can be used as a whole or in part to support researchers in planning, articulating, and executing systematic and transparent qualitative data analysis; developing an audit trail to ensure study dependability and trustworthiness; and/or fleshing out aspects of analysis processes associated with specific methodologies.