III. The Outcome component
3.11 Data analysis
According to Yin (2003), this aspect of case study methodology is usually the least developed and hence the most difficult. He further suggest the possibility of integrating sampling with data collection and analysis, each informing the other III an ongoing manner. Thus, the data collection and analysis of this study occurred as an iterative process, wherein the researcher can moved from the literature and field notes, and back to the literature (Zucker, 2001). First, the data from each RCFs was transcribed and
organized into manageable format before the analysis. Data obtained through record review and observations were also analyzed in similar manner. Later, the findings were presented in a systematic case format according to the unit of analysis of this study and guided by the conceptual framework of the study.
3.11.1 Qualitative data analysis
According to Lacey and Luff (2007), there are no 'quick fit' technique in qualitative data analysis, because qualitative research is an interpretative and subjective exercise, and the researcher is intimately involved in the process, not aloof from it (Pope & Mays, 2006).
Thus, the process of the data analysis began with transcribing the interviews from the four RCFs. At the beginning, notes made from each interview during and immediately after were reviewed and highlights or new concepts were identified. Information obtained through record review and observation was also analyzed qualitatively based on the framework provided and the literature. The participants for the qualitative data were the administrators and elderly residents of the four RCFs.
The qualitative data were analysed manually using the "Framework Analysis" approach developed by Ritchie and Spencer (1994) to assist qualitative researchers to arrive at the holistic and humanistic views of the findings of their studies (Lacey & Luff, 2007). This approach involves five distinct, but interconnected stages which include familiarization, identifying a thematic framework, indexing, charting and mapping and interpretation.
First, the interviews were transcribed and analyzed manually by assembling the transcript from each interview and utilized to form major themes and categories that emerged from the data according to the study's structure, process and outcome, in order to answer the original research questions. A thematic analysis of issues recurring in each study setting was done and emerging themes from various aspects of the data were conceptualized into meaningful themes on the basis of regularities and convergence in the data using the five stages of the framework approach (Ritchie & Spencer, 1994).
Five stages of framework analysis
1. Familiarization involves the whole or partial transcription and reading of the data in order to get an initial feel of the emerging themes and issues within the data.
2. Identifying a thematic framework: The initial coding and identifying key issues, concepts and themes and setting up a framework which is developed both from a priori issues and from emerging issues from the familiarisation stage which is developed and refined in subsequent stages.
3. Indexing: The process of applying the thematic framework to the data, usmg numerical or textual codes to identify specific pieces of data which correspond to differing themes (commonly called coding in other qualitative analysis approaches.
4. Charting: The process of using headings from the thematic framework to create charts of your data so that you can easily read across the whole dataset. The charts can either be thematic for each theme across all respondents and cases or by case for each respondent across all themes.
5. Mapping and interpretation: The charts are used as a means to defme concepts, map the range and nature of phenomena, create typologies, find associations with the data provide explanations or develop strategies depending on either the emergmg themes or on the original research question (Ritchie & Spencer, 1994).
The instrument was divided into two sections: the demographic section and the interview guide. The administrators' interview guide was focused on the structure, process and outcome of each institution. The structural section focussed mainly on background information about the organization and demographic information about the residents and nursing staffs. The focus of the process section was on approaches of care and service delivery to the residents, and the outcome focussed on the result of the process. The findings for each institution are presented in Chapter Four. The interview schedule was utilized to obtain rich descriptions of residential care for the elderly in individual one-on- one interviews. The instrument for the residents was also divided into two sections: 1) the demographic section and 2) Outcome of the elderly (the main interview schedule). The interview guide was also utilized to obtain rich descriptions of resident care outcome in those institutions from the perspective of the residents through focus group discussion and individual interviews.
3.11.2 Quantitative data analysis
Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data obtained from nursing staff. Data obtained through questionnaires were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 15.0) for Windows. The explorative and descriptive components of
specific aspects, including the close ended questions of the study were also analyzed in the same way. However due to the sample size, the results were displayed using descriptive statistics. The open-ended questions, document and record reviews as well as observations were analyzed using descriptive statistics.