Secondary analysis of qualitative data: a valuable method for exploring sensitive issues with an elusive population?
Abstract
This paper aims to demonstrate the process of conducting a secondary analysis of primary qualitative datasets. Whilst there is a well-established tradition of carrying out a secondary analysis of quantitative datasets within social and health research, this has not been the case with qualitative datasets. Despite a recent growth in interest in the secondary analysis of qualitative data, very little information is available regarding the process, as publications tend to focus on the outcomes of analyses. A secondary analysis of 28 transcripts, sorted from two primary datasets containing longitudinal and cross-sectional interview data, was carried out. The choice of applying a secondary analysis fulfilled the aims of: (i) addressing a sensitive area of research; and (ii) accessing a research population that was elusive, factors that may be barriers to carrying out research in areas that are considered to be of a sensitive nature, or topic. Secondary analysis has potentially important implications for qualitative researchers who seek to investigate sensitive topics within health, not least of which is the opportunity it offers to facilitate the training of researchers at all levels.
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Secondary qualitative analysis has been deemed especially appropriate for dealing with vulnerable populations and sensitive issues.
“Secondary qualitative analysis has been deemed especially appropriate for dealing with vulnerable populations and sensitive issues (Long-Sutehall et al., 2010).”
From “He Tells People That I Am Going to Kill My Children”: Post-Separation Coercive Control in Men Who Perpetrate IPV (2024) · cites this paper as Long-Sutehall et al., 2010
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The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research
Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. L. (2017) · Aldine (Routledge reprint) · doi:10.4324/9780203793206 · Cited by 25,789 · see citing works
Meta-Study of Qualitative Health Research
Paterson, B., Thorne, S., Canam, C., & Jillings, C. (2001) · doi:10.4135/9781412985017 · Cited by 664 · cited 1× · see citing works
“…qualitative research in an attempt to generate and synthesise meanings from multiple studies, for example, the meta-study of qualitative data (Paterson et al., 2001), meta-ethnography (Noblit and Hare, 1988), meta-sociology (Furfey, 1953) and meta-study (Zhao, 1991), as the aim of a…”
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Experience of hope: an exploratory research with bereaved mothers following perinatal death
de Andrade Alvarenga, W., deMontigny, F., Zeghiche, S., Verdon, C., & Castanheira Nascimento, L. (2021) · Women and Birth · doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2020.08.011 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Tutty, L. M., Lorraine Radtke, H., & Nixon, K. L. (2024) · Violence Against Women · doi:10.1177/10778012231166408 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
“Secondary qualitative analysis has been deemed especially appropriate for dealing with vulnerable populations and sensitive issues (Long-Sutehall et al., 2010).”
BackgroundOccupational imbalance in hurried African American working mothers
Parnell, R. (2022) · Journal of Occupational Science · doi:10.1080/14427591.2020.1839785 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
- Authors
- Long-Sutehall, T., Sque, M., & Addington-Hall, J.
- Affiliations
- Senior Research Fellow (Faculty of Health Sciences), University of Southampton, UK,
- The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (GB)
- University of Southampton (GB)
- ORCID
- Sque, Magi
- Venue
- Journal of Research in Nursing
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2010-09-03
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 335-344
- ISSN
- 1361-4096 (ISSN-L)
- 1744-9871
- 1744-988X
- OpenAlex
- W2098008914
- Cited by
- 332
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 20 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 37 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 17.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of research in nursing (publishedVersion)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Data Analysis and Archiving
- Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
- Keywords
- secondary analysis of qualitative data, sensitive topics, hard-to-reach populations, research ethics, research training, qualitative research methodology
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