Frontiers in Sociology (Feb 2023)

Analyzing fast and slow: Combining traditional and rapid qualitative analysis to meet multiple objectives of a complex transnational study

  • Lauren Suchman,
  • Elizabeth Omoluabi,
  • Julia Kramer,
  • Janelli Vallin,
  • Erica Sedlander,
  • Serah Gitome,
  • Pauline Wekesa,
  • Zachary Kwena,
  • Rachel Granovsky,
  • Agnes Kayego,
  • Betty Kaudha,
  • Lynn Atuyambe,
  • Dinah Amongin,
  • Phoebe Alitubeera,
  • Aminat Tijani,
  • Chioma Okoli,
  • Ayobambo Jegede,
  • Martha Kamanga,
  • Mandayachepa Nyando,
  • Louisa Ndunyu,
  • Kelsey Holt,
  • The ICAN Research Consortium,
  • The ICAN Research Consortium,
  • The ICAN Research Consortium,
  • The ICAN Research Consortium,
  • The ICAN Research Consortium,
  • The ICAN Research Consortium,
  • Kelsey Holt,
  • Jenny X. Liu,
  • Elizabeth Bukusi,
  • Serah Gitome,
  • Elizabeth Omoluabi,
  • Address Malata,
  • Peter Waiswa,
  • Zachary Kwena,
  • Louisa Ndunyu,
  • Pauline Wekesa,
  • Sarah Okumu,
  • Ivan Idiodi,
  • Chioma Okoli,
  • Aminat Tijani,
  • Ayobambo Jegede,
  • Grace Nmadu,
  • Shakede Dimowo,
  • Martha Kamanga,
  • Mandayachepa Nyando,
  • Innocencia Mtalimanja,
  • Tamandani Jumbe,
  • Lynn Atuyambe,
  • Dinah Amongin,
  • Phoebe Alitubeera,
  • Catherine Birabwa,
  • Agnes Kayego,
  • Betty Kaudha,
  • Beth Phillips,
  • Lauren Suchman,
  • Janelli Vallin,
  • Sneha Challa,
  • Julia Kramer,
  • Erica Sedlander,
  • LaKia Williams

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.961202
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

Read online

Much of the methodological literature on rapid qualitative analysis describes processes used by a relatively small number of researchers focusing on one study site and using rapid analysis to replace a traditional analytical approach. In this paper, we describe the experiences of a transnational research consortium integrating both rapid and traditional qualitative analysis approaches to develop social theory while also informing program design. Research was conducted by the Innovations for Choice and Autonomy (ICAN) consortium, which seeks to understand how self-injection of the contraceptive subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) can be implemented in a way that best meets women's needs, as defined by women themselves. Consortium members are based in Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Nigeria, and the United States. Data for the ICAN study was collected in all four countries in sub-Saharan Africa. In order to both illuminate social phenomena across study sites and inform the program design component of the study, researchers developed tools meant to gather both in-depth information about women's contraceptive decision-making and data targeted specifically to program design during the formative qualitative phase of the study. Using these two bodies of data, researchers then simultaneously conducted both a traditional qualitative and rapid analysis to meet multiple study objectives. To complete the traditional analysis, researchers coded interview transcripts and kept analytical memos, while also drawing on data collected by tools developed for the rapid analysis. Rapid analysis consisted of simultaneously collecting data and reviewing notes developed specifically for this analysis. We conclude that integrating traditional and rapid qualitative analysis enabled us to meet the needs of a complex transnational study with the added benefit of grounding our program design work in more robust primary data than normally is available for studies using a human-centered design approach to intervention development. However, the realities of conducting a multi-faceted study across multiple countries and contexts made truly “rapid” analysis challenging.

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