Open AccessUsing Affinity Networks to Scaffold Community Collaboration: A Methodological Technique to Support the Use of Qualitative Data in Community-Based Research
Author(s) -
Catharine Biddle,
Ian M. Mette
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the qualitative report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.335
H-Index - 35
ISSN - 2160-3715
DOI - 10.46743/2160-3715/2019.3855
Subject(s) - craft , interview , qualitative research , computer science , visualization , sociology , data science , participatory action research , citizen journalism , work (physics) , qualitative property , social network analysis , management science , knowledge management , engineering ethics , world wide web , data mining , social science , engineering , social capital , machine learning , mechanical engineering , archaeology , anthropology , history
Cooperation is increasingly required to craft solutions to complex problems in our society, while the role of cultivated, academic expertise is being challenged as a model for solving social problems. Participatory or community-based approaches are often suggested as a solution to this dichotomy; however, few analytic methods are purposefully engineered to support this work. Affinity networks combine interviewing with data visualization to produce data analysis that can be easily fed back into collaboratives with community partners. This article provides a step by step introduction to producing affinity networks using Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software, as well as suggestions for using them to advance community partnerships.