Two early steps in analysing qualitative data: making summaries and using the constant comparative method

Making summaries and using the constant comparative method are helpful first steps when analysing qualitative data, particularly interview data. Both are of great value because they facilitate the identification of themes. Summaries reduce the information available through a transcript and facilitate comparisons between cases. Similarly, while the constant comparative method can eventually lead to more complex analysis, in the early stages it involves a relatively straightforward process of comparing cases and identifying similarities and differences. This article discusses summaries and the constant comparative method in broad terms before demonstrating how both were used to begin to analyse interviews with lecturers at a United Kingdom university.