Using Human Senses to Enact Rigorous Qualitative Analysis

Just under a year ago I was visiting Anuja Cabraal in Australia and we spent some time working together on qualitative projects and also having some fun downtime. Part of that included some wine tasing on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula.

Image of the postcard advertising our workshop

I think it was at the first vineyard when the embryonic thoughts that have since developed into our workshop Bringing Qualitative Analysis to Life: Making the Most of Your Senses, with Daniel Turner first took seed.

In-person (only) workshop, Edinburgh, Scotland, November 13-14th 2025

I'd never been wine tasting before and wasn't a connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination. I've also spent many lengthy periods over the past five years or so abstaining from drinking alcohol completely. So I was out of my depth in the environment, to say the least. But I was up for it - ready and open to be outside of my comfort zone and to learn something new.

An image of two almost empty wine glasses, with a piece of paper alongside containing descriptions of the selection of wines that could be tasted

We listened to the sommelier describe the first wine to us which included that:

"pear and guava notes add to the lively expression of fruit of this wine and the chalky fine undertones of ginger and clove spice".

As soon as he'd finished and Anuja and I were left to smell and then taste the wine, we looked at one another and pretty much simultaneously said "that's qualitative analysis". After a few moments of laughter and chatting about why we were thinking this, we had the foresight to audio-record our thoughts.

We'll be playing extracts from those audio-recordings at the workshop, along with other sound based experiences.

We spent the rest of the day reflecting more and more on the parallels, as we hopped across to more vineyards. Along the way we also ate some beautiful food and the synergies of what those tastes evoked in us in relation to the interpretive process of qualitative analysis were not lost upon us.

Later that evening we chatted with Daniel on Zoom and the three of us chatted about how our senses (in the fullest sense of the concept - no pun intended!) are involved in the way we analyse qualitative materials. Whatever analytic method we use. And thus our workshop was born.

Image of a tray of chocolates, some covered in golden paper, some sprinkled with white coconut and others are dark chocolates with no covering

There will be tastings of various types during the two days (did I mention chocolate...?), but more than that, together we will be exploring the broader range of "senses" involved in enacting qualitative analysis.

Experiences and exercises include art fieldwork, creative and emoji coding, reflexivity practices and writing interludes, all designed to explore how we can bring qualitative analysis back to the real world, through the embodied use of our senses.

Image of several sheets of tiny emoji stickers, that we'll be using in some of our sense-based qualitative analysis exercises

When we were planning the workshop we called it for shorthand our "qualitative fun". And it will be fun. But not at the expense of rigour. One of the things I value most about the collaborations I have with Anuja and Daniel are that we are similarly focused on ensuring our own qualitative work (whether research or teaching) is of the highest quality possible.

We each accomplish that in our own style, but we're focused on that common aim, and we're continually learning from everyone we connect with. We enjoy working with each another because we also love that qualitative work. Talking about it. Doing it. Enacting it with our senses.

The workshop is almost full but if you want to explore for yourself, and share with us and other likeminded qualitative researchers, what it means and can look like to bring qualitative analysis to life through the use of your senses - and have some fun doing it - do check out the info below and book here

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This workshop brings together a range of established and innovative qualitative analytical techniques to enable researchers to further develop research practice. Sessions focus on broadening and deepening analytical skills to foster adaptability in the interpretation of complex data. 

Focusing on actionable outcomes, the workshop will enable researchers to: 

• Improve reflexive practices throughout the analytic process

• Represent participant data with authenticity

• Enhance rigour and transparency in qualitative research

• Advance techniques for theme development that remain grounded in the data 

• Communicate conclusions powerfully to different audiences 

Sessions include

• Embodying analytic reflexivity with visual art, creative and tasting exercises

• Small group collaborative sessions focusing on different stages of the analytic process

• Structured reflection sessions oriented around researcher learning outcomes 

The aim of the workshop is to help researchers develop transferable analytical skills for current and future research projects. Led by specialists in qualitative data analysis, Anuja Cabraal, Daniel Turner and Christina Silver. 

In-person (only) workshop, Edinburgh, Scotland, November 13-14th 2025.