Qualitative content analysis – how to develop a sound study design?

Introduction
Qualitative content analysis is often used in social and health sciences. Though, there are different approaches to qualitative content analysis, therefore it can be challenging to understand and use the method. The paper contributes to the methodological literature by framing the analytical process of qualitative content analysis within the hermeneutic paradigm, on which the method is grounded. The presentation shows how to use the method, including how each analytical step is conducted to address the philosophical premisses.

Goals and Methods
The goal is to provide guidance on the use of qualitative content analysis focusing on developing a robust study design that transparently shows how findings emerge and provide valid and reliable answers to the specific study aim by addressing consistency between preunderstanding, study aim, research questions, and analysis. The proposed framework is based on the literature on hermeneutics and qualitative content analysis as well as the authors’ methodological expertise from using the method in research and teaching.

Results
The presented qualitative content analysis approach is based on the theoretical premises of philosophical hermeneutics. Guidance on how to develop a qualitative study using inductive qualitative content analysis is presented and exemplified following a four-step approach to analysis: 1) Establishing an overview of the data material; 2) Identifying and extracting meaning units; 3) Combining meaning units to descriptive categories; and 4) Developing explanatory themes across categorized meaning units.

Conclusions
The proposed framework provides guidance on how to develop a study design that transparently shows how findings emerge to provide valid and reliable explanations of the study aim by addressing consistency between assumptions, i.e., preunderstanding, study aim, research questions, and analysis. In this way, the paper also responds to criticism raised about qualitative content analysis lacking clarity in philosophical premises and the use of terminology.