Celluloid Angels: The Power of Stories

Abstract

The primary aim of this chapter is to discuss approaches to qualitative data analysis. Any qualitative study-ethnography, life history,grounded theory, phenomenology, historical research, participatory action research, or other qualitative approach to research-rests, to a large extent,upon the quality of the analysis that is applied to the data collected. Therefore, my primary aim is to guide the reader toward an appreciation of the often subtle but vital steps involved in qualitative data analysis. As part of this aim, I offer a description of the study "Celluloid Angels: A Research Study of Nurses in Feature Films 1900-2007" (Stanley, 2008)at the heart of this chapter. I discuss why and how the study outlined in "Celluloid Angels" was developed along with the challenges and issues faced in undertaking the study, and I offer the reader insight into how the challenges were overcome and how the qualitative aspects of the study were analyzed.