Organizing Data into Meta-Themes

 Elwood Folse | 88.1 WUWF | Week 12

This week at 88.1 WUWF, I was asked to help with a crucial step in our research process: working with transcripts and grouping our data into meta-themes organized by research questions.

At first glance, it felt like a simple task—just sorting through our findings—but I quickly realized how much analytical thinking it really required. Each transcript, each interview, and every piece of credible or questionable information had to be examined carefully and placed into categories that not only made sense but also tied directly to the core questions of our investigation.

By organizing our data this way, we’re able to see emerging patterns more clearly. Instead of being lost in a sea of quotes and anecdotes, we can now trace how different stories and sources connect—or contradict each other—across themes. This process has been essential in sharpening our focus, making sure every piece of information will have its place in the podcast’s narrative.

This week reminded me how important structure is in any kind of research or storytelling. It’s not just about collecting facts—it’s about arranging them in a way that reveals meaning.