Skip to main content
Public Health Workforce Training
Link to beginning section of An Introduction to Qualitative Analysis with ATLAS.ti

Reading Exercise

Let’s practice the three types of reading. Below is an excerpt from a transcript of one of the focus groups the team conducted with HIV-positive women in Brooklynville. Imagine you are the moderator. Look at the transcript and write down notes for each type of reading technique. You should have at least one note per type of reading (e.g., at least one note from your literal reading, one note from your interpretative reading, and one from your reflexive reading). The first one has been completed for you.

MODERATOR: Okay, so it’s like mostly, you know, central Bruekleynville like general kind of area. Okay. And what kind of, what kind of techniques do you use to do outreach and education?

A literal reading of this excerpt might read: “Update spelling of Brooklynville in transcripts.”

Now continue reading and commenting on this transcript.

Question 1:

W1: Okay, we have outreach events at –

MODERATOR: Uh huh.

W1: various places. Soup kitchens, methadone clinics, um, shelters, food pantries, churches.

MODERATOR: Oh. So you like go around and give little health fears or, or, or collar people off the street.

Feedback:

A literal reading comment might read: “health FAIRS not fears”

Question 2:

W1: That’s right. Yeah.

MODERATOR: Oh, that’s cool.

Feedback:

A reflexive reading comment might say: “as the moderator I should not make a value judgment about what participants are saying, even if I agree. saying “that’s cool” could be interpreted by other participants as tacit agreement and they may adjust their statements to “please” me /social desirability.

Question 3:

W1: Homeless shelters..

MODERATOR: You know, when you’ve had some experience doing this, um, there are places that will pay you to do that –

W1: Mm hmm.

MODERATOR: so this is a good thing that you’re getting some experience. And, um, can you tell me a little bit, you know what’s the deal with women, obviously, and this being the middle of Bruekleynville very different kinds of women, you have everything here. What do you. you sort of, you know, hear from the people you deal with about HIV testing? Is it something they’ve even thought about?

W2: No. I don’t think so.

Feedback:

A reflexive reading comment might read “as the moderator I am speaking too frequently, and for a long time, I may need to have another training or take a second look at the guide.”

Question 4:

W2: Right.

W1: So, they just keep on out there getting high, they don’t know. They’re very promiscuous because they wanna get the next hit. That they get caught up and don’t get checked because all they’re thinking about is the high.

Feedback:

A literal reading comment might state: “this is a key piece of information. We need to return to the tapes to see what was said here.” An interpretative reading comment might read “this group is connecting addiction and drug use to risky sexual behavior. I wonder if male groups would agree? Where did they get this information?