Using mixed methods to bring together big data, and qualitative research in the Wikihistories project

Join us for an insightful workshop that continues our Qualitative Data Analysis series for 2025! 

In a recent research project, the Wikihistories research team used mixed methods to generate and analyse data. This meant working across different scales, combining large-scale quantitative analysis of the metadata associated with 35,000 Wikipedia articles and fine-grained qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with Wikipedia editors. 

In this workshop led by Associate Professor Heather Ford and Dr Francesca Sidoti we reflect on the process of producing and analysing qualitative data in the context of big data. The workshop will provide strategies for social scientists at any stage who are embarking on mixed methods research or hoping to integrate qualitative methods within big data research.  

We explore how to:  

- incorporate big data in qualitative studies; 

- work with the opportunities, challenges and "inconsistencies" of mixed methods 

- identify themes between qualitative and quantitative data to convey research findings. 

Events in the 2025 Qualitative Data Analysis series

• Thematic Analysis - Big Q and little q – Tuesday 25 February 2025, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
• Autoethnography - The possibilities – Tuesday 18 March 2025, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
• Investigating the Potential for LLMs for Inductive and Deductive Coding – Tuesday 22 April 2025, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
• Autoethnography - Triangulations – Tuesday 29 April, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
• Inductive Content Analysis - Tuesday 13 May, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
• Using mixed methods to bring together big data, and qualitative research in the Wikihistories project - Tuesday 10 June, 12:30pm - 1:30pm
• Mess in QDA – Tuesday 8 July, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
• Applying concepts and underlying 'ologies' – Tuesday 9 September, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
• Deep Dive into Thematic Analysis - From Concepts to Practice – Tuesday 7 October, 12:30pm- 1:30pm
• Non-word-based techniques in qualitative research and analysis – Tuesday 11 November, 12:30pm – 1:30pm   

This is a UTS Aspire event. UTS Aspire is a program of pan-university research development opportunities led by the Research Capability and Development Team.