Metathemes

In qualitative research many times direct questions are asked in form of interview from respondents. The question types are specification, structural, grand Tour, idealization, hypothetical-interaction, and third-person. Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software i.e. CAQDAS is a software which helps in development, coding and analysis of data in qualitative research. The data which is collected by the investigators is first interpreted and developed in a form of code with respect to the theme and then this coded data is analyzed with the help of software algorithms. It is necessary that the analysis should be reliable, applicable, and valid. Conditions that ensure reliability and validity of quantitative analysis are as follows: Check that the method used is appropriate as per research problem which ensures that result derived is correct and applicable. The sampling method should be appropriate and sample size should be sufficient, as incorrect sample will make the research invalid i.e. not applicable on population. The data analysis should be through and incomplete data will ignore relevant points making research unreliable. Presentation should cover all the findings which help in validity of research as customer will be able to use in bigger scenario. The information about the interviewer along with biases if any should be given as it helps in knowing problems with reliability and validity if any. Qualitative research is a research technique where non-numerical, open ended answers are expected for the questions in interview. This research technique is exploratory and helps in understand the topic of research. In qualitative research, many times direct questions are asked, in interview from respondents. The different question types that are asked in qualitative research are specification, structural, grand tour, idealization, hypothetical-interaction, and third-person. There are many individual themes developed in any qualitative analysis. But the analysis needs to merge all these findings and needs to relate them to find a conclusive result. So, a metatheme is basically name or label given to a collation of themes, developed to help as a bridge between all these individual themes and helps to consolidate the findings. There are basically two functions of metathemes. First, when there are several individual themes, then it becomes very difficult to give direction to research. So, the function of metathemes is to develop an interrelationship between these individual themes, and the second function is that metathemes help in understanding the trends or patterns in the theme data collected.