Collective Data Analysis and Social Interpretation

Collective Data Analysis and Interpretation

The latest research operations are related to the analysis of collected data and its interpretation.

Specific Treatment and Analysis of Data Sets

Each set of data requires specific treatment and analysis:

• Statistical treatments: These require surveys.
• Interviews: These require special treatments—first individually (transcripts, encoding, categorization of content, interpretation of the relationship between categories, etc.) and then in combination (cross-sectional analysis for the types of speech, etc.).

Social Circumstances and Situational Context

All data sets must be analyzed in relation to the social circumstances involved in shaping the social situation intended to be addressed. The goal is to discover the issues involved in setting certain social relations and the possibilities (also relational) which provide for action.

This is especially important because, as opposed to alienated and powerless thinking, this analysis is revealed to allow a glimpse of the mechanisms of production and reproduction of society and the possibilities available to effect change.

The Role of Experts and Non-Experts

The participation of non-experts in this process of analysis is therefore beneficial, but difficult. The expert must conduct this analysis, preparing data from one analytic session to the next, and should enrich the contributions of the group with their expertise and analytical capacity to contrast the synthesis submitted by the group.

Research Reports and Community Dissemination

The development of a research report (diagnostic group) that collects the most important findings should serve as a basis for wider dissemination. This includes:

• Delivery to major agents of the social space that has been investigated (professionals, governments, associations, etc.).
• The organization of public debates and participatory workshops.

Integrated research in community action has the precise meaning of direct action by the group or groups involved who participate in the action collectively.

The research results will form the basis to launch or relaunch collective action around the development of the community project.