Monsters in Qualitative Data

A post by Sheng-Hsiang Lance Peng

Understanding qualitative data poses a significant challenge for many researchers. Despite available resources providing insights into data management strategies, researchers often struggle in this area. Researchers, especially those operating within collaborative contexts, ought to go into how individuals’ self-perceptions and their perceptions of others influence their environments, and to position themselves accordingly in relation to the varied narratives encountered.

A challenge associated with understanding reflexivity lies in its subjective interpretation, influenced by individual perspectives. In social sciences research, researchers acknowledge their identity and standpoint concerning participants, yet often neglect to integrate this awareness into the analysis phase. Reflexivity is linked to both our self-perceptions and our views of the world, reflecting our personal standpoint. This underscores the importance of recognising the presence of ‘monsters’ within qualitative data. In the context of qualitative analysis, monsters symbolise more than mere creatures of folklore or mythological beings. Instead, they represent manifestations of societal fears, anxieties, and cultural complexities that lurk beneath the surface of human experience. These monsters embody the collective imagination and subconscious of a society, reflecting its deepest fears, desires, and uncertainties. In monster culture, the concept of monsters extends far beyond their literal representations. They serve as symbolic entities, often embodying societal taboos, moral dilemmas, and existential uncertainties. As Jeffrey Jerome Cohen describes in his writings, monsters are ‘boundary beings’, existing at the margins of what is known and accepted, challenging the status quo and prompting reflection on the boundaries of human understanding.

By acknowledging the presence of monsters within qualitative data, researchers go into human experience and cultural expression. These monstrous entities reveal underlying narratives, ideologies, and power dynamics that shape social structures and individual identities. Moreover, they invite critical reflection on societal norms, beliefs, and anxieties that permeate the fabric of everyday life. Monsters in qualitative data serve as gateways to deeper understanding and interpretation. They challenge conventional notions of normalcy, disrupt established narratives, and prompt exploration of the ‘uncanny’ and the ‘unknown’. By embracing the presence of monsters, researchers can uncover hidden truths, unravel marginalised narratives, and engage in a more nuanced analysis of human society and culture.

Within the collaborative realms of qualitative data analysis, researchers endeavour to empower individuals to achieve their envisioned potentials. Yet, this aspiration becomes entangled in a web of conflicting ideals surrounding autonomy and the dynamics between facilitation and didactic approaches. In navigating these intricacies, acknowledging the personal stance of each researcher within the collaborative endeavour is paramount—a principle embedded in the ethos of monster culture. Reflexivity, within this context, transcends a mere acknowledgment of personal biases; it encompasses the active positioning of oneself within the research process while honouring the diverse perspectives of all involved. This involves negotiating between the formalised structures of research—protocols, methodological frameworks, and academic publications—essential for scholarly recognition, and the lived experiences inherent in qualitative data analysis.

For researchers immersed in collaborative qualitative data analysis, reflexivity also includes transparently disclosing their value systems to fellow collaborators. It necessitates engaging in a collective exploration of perspectives and experiences throughout the research journey. However, amidst this collaborative ethos, a sense of skepticism often arises regarding the idealisation of collaborative research practices within the domain of monster culture. Indeed, researchers operating within collaborative contexts in qualitative data analysis grapple with the tension between the romanticised notions of collaboration and the pragmatic realities of navigating diverse perspectives and values, as articulated by Maggi Savin-Baden in her work.

In the collaborative exploration within monster culture and qualitative data, researchers embark on a journey to investigate a singular research inquiry from a multitude of vantage points. Each perspective, rooted in its unique standpoint within the monstrous landscape, inevitably yields distinct understandings and interpretations of the phenomena under scrutiny. This diversity of viewpoints not only enriches the exploration but also adds layers of complexity and depth to the comprehension of the research question, akin to navigating through the monstrous narratives. While some researchers aspire to converge upon a unified understanding of the data through collaborative efforts, the multifaceted nature of monster culture demands alternative approaches to collaborative coding.

It is within the shadowy depths of this cultural milieu that the concept of multiple coding emerges as a beacon, guiding researchers through the fog of uncertainty and divergent interpretations. Multiple coding assumes a pivotal role in navigating monster culture, facilitating discourse among researchers as they grapple with the entities lurking within the qualitative data. As articulated by Angela Sweeney and her colleagues in their study, qualitative researchers operating within the realm of monster culture recognise the inevitable influence of their own experiences and personal histories on their interpretations. Indeed, reflexivity serves as a lantern illuminating the murky terrain, allowing researchers to navigate through the shadowy realms of bias and subjectivity. However, it is essential to acknowledge that, much like the elusive monsters themselves, biases cannot be entirely banished—they linger in the corners of our consciousness, shaping our perceptions and interpretations.

Within the collaborative and multidisciplinary teamwork, the advantage lies in the integration of multiple perspectives into the interpretation of qualitative data entrenched in monster culture. Multiple coding, in this context, serves as a conduit for harnessing the cacophony of perspectives, fostering dialogue among team members as they grapple with the monstrous manifestations within the data. Through these dialogues, the knottedness of the data emerge, akin to uncovering hidden passages. Analysts, having dived deep into the monstrous fabric of qualitative data, approach discussions with an understanding, enriching the analytical process through the judicious application of multiple coding methodologies. Thus, within the context of monster culture, collaborative efforts and multiple coding techniques serve as indispensable tools in unraveling the mysteries concealed within the qualitative data landscape.

The initial publication of this article was on Information Matters.

Bio

Broadly, Lance researches around and bridges social work and education, writing about a hotchpotch of cross-disciplinary issues. A proponent of perspectives on the uncanny, the persistence of the past, and the examination of societal anxieties and desires, he also pens a phantasmagoria of articles discussing their application across various spheres. Visit this link to explore his webfolio.