Reopening a can of words: Qualitative secondary data analysis

Abstract

AbstractQualitative Secondary Data Analysis remains severely underutilized in Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS). In this paper, we revisit the topic of qualitative secondary data analysis, exploring complications and possibilities. Major barriers to qualitative secondary data analysis are archiving data, availability of datasets, and knowledge and explicit models of qualitative data reanalysis. Foregrounding the importance of multilogicality, qualitative secondary data analysis moves away from linear, unidimensional, and restricted analyses and understandings. With exceptions, little published discussion exists about philosophical considerations and analytical tools that could be used for qualitative secondary data analysis within HDFS. In response to this deficit, we offer ideas and examples of qualitative secondary data analyses from our datasets. By reopening this can of words, we hope to (re) generate more discussion and encourage a greater number of HDFS scholars to archive their qualitative datasets and reuse existing qualitative datasets.