IET Open Seminar: Working with large amounts of qualitative data

In the next open seminar of the TLU Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Life-course Studies, Prof Rosalind Edwards and Dr Susie Weller from University of Southampton will introduce the Breadth and Depth Method that they have developed with colleagues, for working with large amounts of qualitative data: primary or secondary, and snapshot or longitudinal. 

The Method is a four-step process that enables researchers to combine extensive coverage with intensive illumination, moving between the breadth of ‘big qual’ analysis and the depth of detailed qualitative engagement. Working with large amounts of qualitative data enables researchers to scope out new research questions that allow for comparison and claims to generalisability while still retaining the distinctive order of knowledge about social processes that is the hallmark of rigorous qualitative research, with its integrity of attention to nuanced context and detail. We will illustrate the Method with our research on ‘home moves’, working with transcripts from six qualitative longitudinal research projects that were merged into one dataset.

Speakers:

Rosalind Edwards is Professor of Sociology in the Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology at the University of Southampton, where she is also attached to the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods. She is a Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences, and a founding and co-editor of the International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 

Susie Weller is a Senior Research Fellow in Clinical Ethics and Law at Southampton (CELS) University of Southampton, UK. She is also affiliated to the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) and is an Honorary Researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Location: Zoom (link will be sent to people who have registered)                                                                                                                                             

The series of open seminars is organized by the TLU Center of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Life Studies (IET), funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund (ASTRA project "TLU TEE Tallinn University as a promoter of intelligent lifestyle"). In 2021, the seminars are co-organised by the consortium of YouthLife Project.