How do you analyze and synthesize data from video interviews for research?

1 Plan your goals and questions

Before you conduct any video interviews, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to learn from them, and what questions you will ask. This will help you design a consistent and relevant interview protocol, and avoid wasting time and resources on irrelevant or redundant topics. You should also consider how you will record, store, and access the video data, and what ethical and legal issues you need to address.

3 Analyze the visual and non-verbal cues

Video data offers more than just words. It also captures the visual and non-verbal cues of the interviewees, such as facial expressions, gestures, body language, eye contact, and emotions. These cues can provide valuable information about the interviewees' attitudes, feelings, motivations, and preferences, and can complement or contrast with their verbal responses. You can analyze these cues by using tools such as video annotation software, or by applying frameworks such as the Facial Action Coding System (FACS).

4 Synthesize and interpret the data

After you have transcribed, coded, and analyzed the video data, you need to synthesize and interpret the results. This means finding connections, patterns, and differences among the data, and explaining what they mean for your research questions and goals. You can use various methods and techniques to synthesize and interpret the data, such as thematic analysis, narrative analysis, discourse analysis, or grounded theory. You should also consider how your own assumptions, biases, and perspectives may influence your interpretation, and how you can address them.

5 Visualize and communicate the findings

The final step in using video data for research is to visualize and communicate the findings. This means presenting the data in a way that is clear, engaging, and persuasive, and that supports your claims and arguments. You can use different formats and media to visualize and communicate the findings, such as charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, maps, images, or video clips. You should also consider your audience, purpose, and context, and tailor your message accordingly.