An earlier article in Research Design Review discusses Fast and Slow Thinking in Research Design. The emphasis here is on the idea that “there is no easy solution to the discovery of how people think” and researchers’ methods need to incorporate an approach that allows for “an appreciation of the many facets of the human mind – the irrational and rational, emotional and cognitive.”

Although not explicitly discussed in this earlier article, “discovery of how people think” in a slow, considered manner is the ultimate goal of qualitative data collection and the qualitative data analysis process. By definition, the unique attributes of qualitative research require a thoughtful, measured course of action. Two of these attributes — the importance of context and the importance of meaning — play a significant role in mandating the researcher’s unwavering attention.

An unspoken yet key ingredient in qualitative research methodology, and particularly qualitative data analysis, is time. That is, taking the necessary time to absorb each participant’s contribution to the research objectives and then deeply examine the similarities and differences across participants. And yet, many researchers often feel compelled to speed up their analysis.

When deciding to conduct a qualitative research study, the timeline should be given careful consideration. Qualitative researchers owe it to the integrity of their research results (and ultimately to the users of the research) to fully accept and embrace the amount of time required for analysis. And likewise, to resist demands (from others or self-inflicted) that serve to unduly accelerate the analysis process.

Researchers are encouraged to build in the time required to conduct a complete analysis and to document the estimated time requirement when developing the research design. Let it be known from the outset that additional weeks or months may be needed in the timeline to allow for a thorough and meaningful analysis at the completion of data collection.

Qualitative data analysis — understanding the contextual meanings of how people think (individually and collectively) — takes time. Embrace it. Enjoy it. It is why we conduct qualitative research in the first place.