On September 27, CSBS hosted the workshop Crafting Qualitative Evidence for Impact: Insider Methods for Qualitative Data Analysis, Claim-Making, and Quality, led by Dr. Sarah J. Tracy from Arizona State University. As part of the CSBS Methods Series, the workshop brought together 68 participants from 24 different campus units (e.g., communication, educational psychology, electrical and computer engineering, human development and family studies, and the School of Labor and Employment Relations). This diversity highlights the widespread demand for enhanced training in qualitative research methods and underscores the increasing recognition of qualitative research’s value across scientific disciplines.
The overarching goal of the CSBS Methods Series is to bolster the social and behavioral science community on our campus by broadening researchers’ methodological skills to enhance their research programs. Dr. Tracy’s workshop aimed to address the gaps that exist in many researchers’ qualitative data analysis training. Graduate programs do not uniformly incorporate qualitative data analysis training, making workshops like this one essential for scholars who want to conduct qualitative research.
The focus of the workshop was Dr. Tracy’s phronetic iterative qualitative data analysis (PIQDA) approach. This method emphasizes the use of qualitative insights to tackle significant societal challenges, focusing on how research can be utilized to foster meaningful change.
Dr. Tracy outlined the distinct phases of PIQDA, from data organization to interpretation. She stressed the importance of distinguishing between coding, interpretation, and claim-making—offering practical strategies for navigating each step. Dr. Tracy also discussed developing a codebook with useful elements, understanding how many interviews are enough to substantiate research findings, and what defines “quality” in qualitative research.
Throughout the workshop, Dr. Tracy threaded examples from her own published research, including an ethnographic study on the emotional labor of cruise ship employees and an interview study with male executives about gender, work, and home. Workshop participants were encouraged to share their own research questions and goals, which Dr. Tracy used for additional discussion.
The feedback from attendees following the event was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the practical insights and tools they gained. One participant shared, “It was really well done in terms of the event logistics and Dr. Tracy was an excellent facilitator. I’ve been thinking and talking about it ever since!” Another remarked on the breadth of topics covered, saying, “By the last two sessions, I was learning new information. Great focus on a thoughtful but efficient process.”