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Can We Re-Use Qualitative Data via Secondary Analysis? Notes on Some Terminological and Substantive Issues

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  • Martyn Hammersley

Abstract

The potential gains and practical problems associated with secondary analysis of qualitative data have received increasing attention in recent years. The discussions display conflicting attitudes, some commentators emphasising the difficulties while others emphasise the benefits. In a few recent contributions the distinctiveness of re-using data has come to be questioned, on the grounds that the problems identified with it - of data not fitting the research questions, and of relevant contextual knowledge being absent - are by no means limited to secondary analysis. There has also been a more fundamental claim: to the effect that these problems are much less severe once we recognise that, all data are constituted and re-constituted within the research process. In this article I examine these arguments, concluding that while they have much to commend them, they do not dissolve the problems of ‘fit’ and ‘context’.

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  • Martyn Hammersley, 2010. "Can We Re-Use Qualitative Data via Secondary Analysis? Notes on Some Terminological and Substantive Issues," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 15(1), pages 47-53, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:15:y:2010:i:1:p:47-53
    DOI: 10.5153/sro.2076
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mildred Blaxter, 2007. "Commentary on ‘a Reflexive Account of Reusing Qualitative Data: Beyond Primary/secondary Dualism’ (Libby Bishop)," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 12(3), pages 57-60, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ibrahim Mutambik & John Lee & Abdullah Almuqrin & Justin Zuopeng Zhang, 2023. "Transitioning to Smart Cities in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: The Role of Leadership and Organisational Culture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, July.
    2. Linda Theron & Motlalepule Ruth Mampane & Liesel Ebersöhn & Angie Hart, 2020. "Youth Resilience to Drought: Learning from a Group of South African Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-14, October.
    3. Catherine Dodds & Peter Keogh & Adam Bourne & Lisa McDaid & Corinne Squire & Peter Weatherburn & Ingrid Young, 2021. "The Long and Winding Road: Archiving and Re-Using Qualitative Data from 12 Research Projects Spanning 16 Years," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 26(2), pages 269-287, June.
    4. Emma Davidson & Rosalind Edwards & Lynn Jamieson & Susie Weller, 2019. "Big data, qualitative style: a breadth-and-depth method for working with large amounts of secondary qualitative data," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 53(1), pages 363-376, January.
    5. Macdonald, Sara & Blane, David & Browne, Susan & Conway, Ellie & Macleod, Una & May, Carl & Mair, Frances, 2016. "Illness identity as an important component of candidacy: Contrasting experiences of help-seeking and access to care in cancer and heart disease," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 101-110.
    6. Sarah Irwin, 2013. "Qualitative secondary data analysis: Ethics, epistemology and context," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 13(4), pages 295-306, October.
    7. Philippe Robert-Demontrond & Anne Joyeau, 2016. "What the "carbon footprint" is the name: social acceptability survey of a commercial device against climate change [Ce dont « l'empreinte carbone » est le nom : enquête sur l'acceptabilit," Post-Print halshs-02444474, HAL.
    8. Jo Haynes & Demelza Jones, 2012. "A Tale of Two Analyses[1]: The Use of Archived Qualitative Data," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 17(2), pages 1-9, May.
    9. Sasha Williams & Ian Law, 2012. "Legitimising Racism: An Exploration of the Challenges Posed by the Use of Indigeneity Discourses by the Far Right," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 17(2), pages 1-12, May.

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