Transparency is in the details...

I was really struck by one of TP's comments yesterday -- transparency (in the research process) is found in the details...

Yes and yes.

It is easy to forget that it is in the chronicling of the details that we re-create/re-present the research process for outsiders. We create an opportunity for others make sense of our process, making visible our every step.

CAQDAS packages do seem to provide one avenue by which to make the process visible. As we've discussed in class, one of the common (and long-standing) critiques of qualitative research is that the process is 'hidden' from others, requiring us to trust that data analysis occurred and even that data was collected. I've found over the years that moving my entire research process to a space that records my chronicled thoughts/ideas, results in a publication that is far more transparent. The details are there for me to return to, include in my writing, and re-consider.

I think the possibilities for transparency continue to lead me to invest time and energy into using CAQDAS packages.