Recontextualisation

After the meaning units have been identified, the researcher has to check whether all the aspects of the content have been covered with regard to the aim (Burnard, 1991). The original text is re-read alongside the final list of meaning units. Coloured pencils are useful to distinguish each meaning unit in the original transcript. After this process has been performed, some unmarked text nearly always remains. The researcher must then consider whether or not the unmarked text should be included. If the unmarked text gives some answers to the research question, it should be included in the analysis (Burnard, 1995). When the researcher is deeply involved with the data, everything seems to be of importance. Nevertheless, the process of distancing is necessary, and the researcher must allow themselves to let go of the unimportant information that does not correspond to the aim of the study.