Qualitative Research: Iterative Process

We had wonderful discussions today. One of the most important thing took my attention is qualitative research's being iterative. I would like to talk more about what we do mean by saying it is an iterative process. Is it iterative in terms of data collection, in terms of data analysis, or in terms of the design?

My research is based on design research of modeling perspective. This perspective presumes that model (i.e. interpretation systems) development is an iterative process which includes express-test-revise/refine/reject. In the design research, researchers also go though this cycle many times as well as participants to produce the data of the study. What data they collected, what technology or tool they used, what method of analysis they carried out informs and in fact determines the following steps. Moreover, researchers can revise any process by changing the tool or the method that has been used. Thus, they build their interpretation of the data based on this continuous and iterative process. I wonder whether we meant similar or different thing by saying that qualitative research is iterative.

In addition, I really liked thinking about the image of qualitative research. It made me aware that what image we had in our minds is a reflection of how we perceive the qualitative research. For instance, on of the images that we came up in the class was a recorder which implied the data collection process of qualitative research. Even though I did not state in the class, the image that emerged in my mind was a concept map or a sort of picture representing relationships among pieces. When I think about my image, I can see that my perception of the qualitative research has a focus on ways of presenting the results.

Lastly, I want to share one of my experiences about using tools in qualitative research. I was in Turkey at that time and haven't started my PhD yet. I and my colleagues saw an announcement of a workshop of Nvivo. Most of them enrolled in this workshop (I did not because it was too expensive for me). After couple years, I observed that there were a lot of researchers using Nvivo in their research. Today's class made me think this situation from different perspectives:
Did those researchers used this software
       -because they  knew only this tool?
       -because it was one of the most popular software in the department at that time?
Were they aware of that the tool decides the research process?
Were they unaware of how their research has been shaped by the tool?

I think those questions are really important. They will definitely be the questions that I will keep in my mind and ask to myself  to decide the digital tool that I will use in my research.

Thanks for wonderful, informative and illuminating discussion in the class.