Beyond Description to Interpretation and Theory in Qualitative Social Work Research

This article describes analytic procedures that build upon one another and lead toward interpretation and theory construction in social work qualitative research. Using examples from my own research and the research of others, I show relationships between descriptions, analysis, interpretation, and theorizing. Analytic procedures that move us beyond description include reflexivity statements, fieldnotes, group analysis of data, creative thinking, and making conscious choices about when and how to add conceptual material in design and analysis. My thesis is that descriptions are the foundation of both interpretation and theory construction and that descriptions themselves are not simple to do.