Rich Data

The term rich data describes the notion that qualitative data and their subsequent representation in text should reveal the complexities and the richness of what is being studied. Although it is never possible to comprehend all dimensions of a phenomenon, the qualitative researcher seeks to understand what is being investigated as deeply as possible and to situate it within the context of time and space rather than in isolation. As a result, time is an important investment in qualitative research. Prolonged engagement with research participants and sites enables the researcher to get a sense of the multifacetedness of what is being examined. The amount of time actually spent in the field depends on the specific project. Some qualitative projects can be completed in months, whereas traditional ethnographies require at least a year [Page 795]in the field. However, the amount of time required to fully understand a phenomenon can be infinite.

Equally important to qualitative research are the kinds of data being collected. The qualitative researcher typically triangulates data by collecting multiple kinds of data that usually, but not exclusively, include interviews, observational fieldnotes, researcher journals, documents, and other kinds of artifacts. Interviews tend to be open-ended so that participants can share their thoughts and perspectives as fully as possible. Observations and artifact collection lend to better understanding of a phenomenon in the moment, over time, and through various perspectives. Examining different types of data regarding the same phenomenon enables the researcher to better understand the complexity of what is being studied and increases the trustworthiness of the data as well as the interpretations of the researcher. Various kinds of data also help the researcher to understand the richness of the phenomenon being examined.

Collecting rich data, however, is for naught unless the rich data are subsequently interpreted and represented. Quality qualitative research is often described as having rich “thick description,” in the words of Clifford Geertz. Rather than merely recording events, people, and places, thick description seeks to present and explore the multifaceted complexities of the situation being studied, the intentions and motivations of the actors involved, and the context of the situation. By doing this, rich thick description engages readers. It should also give readers a sense of the complexity of the reality about which they are reading only a partial representation. This kind of description is achieved in numerous ways, including the telling of rich involved stories, the use of lengthy quotations from participants and written documents, and the inclusion of researcher fieldnotes and journal entries. In short, rich thick description builds on rich data to grab readers, giving them a sense that they are there, experiencing what the researcher is representing.