Nanâtawihowin Âcimowina Kika-Môsahkinikêhk Papiskîci-Itascikêwin Astâcikowina [Medicine/Healing Stories Picked, Sorted, Stored]: Adapting the Collective Consensual Data Analytic Procedure (CCDAP) as an Indigenous Research Method

Abstract

Over the past several years, academic discourse has included discussions around improving research methodologies, particularly related to Indigenous people. Using Western research methodologies and methods when undertaking health research with Indigenous people, in the direction of Indigenous communities, has not been very effective. This is due to the fact that Western research methodologies do not address the need to foster relationships, mutual respect, and reciprocity. Engaging Indigenous communities empowers them to take an active role in how the research is conducted and ensures that the research is relevant to their communities. Engagement with Indigenous communities is also important during the analysis of qualitative data in the form of interviews, focus groups, and sharing circles. Without adequate engagement, data analysis often reverts back to Western methods, leaving the community out of the data analysis process. Bartlett et al. developed the “Collective Consensual Data Analytic Procedure” (CCDAP) in 2006 to address the lack of community involvement in the data analysis process. Analyzing the qualitative data using a community panel to reach a group consensus reduces the possibility of biases that any one person could bring to the research. Furthermore, group participation helps foster relationships and camaraderie within Indigenous communities. The process outlined by Dr. Bartlett could however become tedious and lengthy when dealing with a large number of interviews and data entries. This is why the CCDAP process was streamlined by first doing a thematic analysis of the data using the NVivo software. Following the thematic analysis, digitalization was added to the process by the way of Microsoft PowerPoint presentation and Excel spreadsheet. This made it quicker and easier to perform the analysis remotely using any videoconferencing platform that allows for screen sharing.