In what ways could a researcher manage and organize the data - Essay Example

Managing and Organizing Qualitative Data Managing and Organizing Qualitative Data Qualitative data is highly challenging when the collected data is voluminous. However, researchers still use the approach in nursing research. Qualitative data is important in explaining phenomena and thus finding an ideal approach to manage and organize the data can be beneficial to a study. There are several approaches that researcher can follow to manage and organize the qualitative data.A researcher can sort out data and keep copies of important information.

The copies can be stored information management systems and backed up with hard copies. In addition, researchers should arrange the information in a logical manner, such as date of collection so as to ease the retrieval of the data. Study notes can also be created to summarize the important aspects of the data without perusing the entire data another time.To avert a confusion in organizing data, researchers can develop a method of cataloging that categorizes data in a unique way that the researcher understands (Polit & Beck, 2010).

The motive is to ease retrieval of the data and identify any missing information that would be relevant in the analysis section. Loss of data is a common issue in qualitative approaches, thus, cataloguing documents can reduce these losses. The catalogue is then stored in a safe place awaiting analysis.Despite the complexities associated with qualitative data, the above discussion proves that researchers can control and manage qualitative data. An efficient sorting and filing system is all a researcher needs to sort out information, detect missing information and also ease the retrieval of the information for analysis.

ReferencesPolit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2010). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.