This is an excellent first step for analyzing qualitative longitudinal data! Creating comprehensive case summaries for each participant at each wave is foundational for understanding individual trajectories and preparing for cross-case and thematic analyses.

Here's a detailed guide on how to create effective case summaries:

Guide to Creating Case Summaries for Qualitative Longitudinal Data

Purpose: Case summaries serve as concise, structured overviews of each participant's experience at a specific point in time (each interview wave). They help you:

• Grasp the "big picture" of each interview quickly.


• Identify key themes, events, and changes for an individual across waves.


• Facilitate within-case analysis (tracking an individual's journey).


• Prepare for cross-case comparisons by highlighting similar data points across participants.


• Reduce the need to constantly re-read full transcripts.

Phase 1: Preparation

• Ensure Transcripts are Ready: All interviews for all waves should be accurately transcribed.


• Define Your Research Questions: While summaries aren't full analysis, keeping your core research questions in mind will help you focus on relevant data.


• Choose Your Software/Method:


• Qualitative Data Analysis Software (QDAS): NVivo, ATLAS.ti, Dedoose, MAXQDA. These are highly recommended as they allow you to link summaries to original data, code, memo, and organize efficiently.


• Word Processor/Spreadsheet: You can create documents/spreadsheets, but linking and querying capabilities will be limited.


• Develop a Consistent Template: This is CRITICAL for comparability. Every summary should use the exact same structure and headings.

Phase 2: The Case Summary Template (Recommended Structure)

Here's a detailed template you can adapt. The goal is to capture both descriptive details and initial analytical insights.

[Participant ID] - Wave [Wave Number] Case Summary

1. Basic Information

• Participant ID: (e.g., P001)


• Wave Number: (e.g., Wave 1 / Initial Interview)


• Date of Interview: (e.g., YYYY-MM-DD)


• Interviewer: (e.g., Dr. Smith)


• Duration of Interview: (e.g., 65 minutes)


• Date Summary Prepared:


• Summary Prepared By:

• A 2-3 sentence summary capturing the dominant mood, key topics, and main message of the interview.


• Example: "Participant P001 seemed optimistic about their new job, but expressed underlying anxiety about financial stability, particularly regarding their children's education. They emphasized a shift in their priorities since their last interview."

• Demographics/Life Stage: (e.g., Age, family status, living situation – update as needed)


• Employment/Education: (e.g., Job title, hours, satisfaction, studies)


• Health/Well-being: (Physical/mental health, significant challenges or improvements)


• Relationships: (Family, friends, community involvement, key support systems or conflicts)


• Significant Life Events: (e.g., Marriage, divorce, bereavement, new child, moving, major illness, etc., if they occurred just before or are happening during this wave.)

• List the main subjects that emerged during the interview. Think of these as high-level codes.


• Theme 1: [Name of Theme] (e.g., Career Transition)


• Elaboration: [Briefly describe P's perspective, experiences, or feelings related to this theme. E.g., "P001 discussed the challenges of adapting to a new work environment, the learning curve, and the positive aspects of increased responsibility."]


• Theme 2: [Name of Theme] (e.g., Financial Concerns)


• Elaboration: [E.g., "P001 detailed worries about monthly expenses, rising inflation, and their inability to save adequately, particularly for their children's future."]


• Theme 3: [Name of Theme] (e.g., Sense of Self/Identity)


• Elaboration: [E.g., "P001 reflected on how their new role has impacted their self-perception, feeling more competent but also more stressed. They mentioned a shift in their sense of purpose."]


• (Add as many themes as necessary, typically 3-7 major ones.)

• How does the participant make sense of their situation? What are their dominant feelings, attitudes, beliefs, or values expressed? What are their hopes, fears, or aspirations?


• Example: "P001 views their current challenges as a necessary step towards long-term goals, framing difficulties as 'tests' of resilience. They value stability above all else."

• Select 2-4 powerful, representative, or particularly insightful direct quotes from the participant. Include timestamps for easy reference.


• Example: "It feels like I'm constantly juggling, never quite catching my breath." (00:23:15)


• Example: "I really hope this is worth it in the end, for my kids." (00:45:30)

• **Changes Noted (Since Previous Wave - if applicable, i.e., Wave 2 onwards):**


• What significant shifts or developments have occurred since the last interview? This could be external events (job loss, new relationship) or internal (changes in perspective, coping strategies, emotional state).


• Example: "Significant improvement in mood compared to Wave 1; previously expressed isolation now replaced by active community engagement. Career transition completed, which was only planned in Wave 1."


• **Continuities Noted (Since Previous Wave - if applicable):**


• What aspects have remained consistent or unchanged? This could be enduring beliefs, persistent challenges, stable relationships, or long-term goals.


• Example: "Core value of family support remains central. Continues to express concerns about national economic climate. Uses the same coping mechanism of 'taking one day at a time'."


• Discrepancies / Contradictions (Between current and previous wave, or within current wave):


• Are there any inconsistencies or conflicting narratives between this interview and the last, or even within this interview? Note them here.


• Example: "While P001 expresses increased optimism, they also report higher stress levels, suggesting an internal contradiction between their stated outlook and lived experience."

• Your initial analytical thoughts, hunches, interpretations, or questions that arose while reading/summarizing. These are your "memos" about the case.


• Example: "Is P001's optimism a genuine shift or a coping strategy to manage overwhelming stress? Need to explore how their definition of 'success' might be changing over time. Is there a gendered aspect to their caregiving burdens?"


• Potential areas for deeper coding or future exploration.

Phase 3: Process of Creating Summaries

• Start with Wave 1 for all participants: This builds a baseline understanding for each individual.


• Read/Listen to the Interview Actively:


• First Pass: Read the entire transcript (or listen to the audio) to get a holistic sense of the interview. Don't take notes yet.


• Second Pass: Read through again, highlighting key passages, significant events, strong emotions, direct answers to research questions, and any surprising statements. Begin to identify potential themes.


• Third Pass (if needed): Focus specifically on extracting information to fill each section of your template.


• Fill Out the Template Systematically:


• Be concise. These are summaries, not re-telling the whole story.


• Use neutral language for descriptive sections.


• For "Key Themes," try to group similar ideas.


• **Crucially, for Wave 2 onwards, you must refer back to the previous wave's summary (and potentially the full transcript) when filling out the "Longitudinal Insights" section.** This is where the longitudinal power lies.


• Review and Refine:


• Read your summary. Does it accurately capture the essence of the interview?


• Is it clear and easy to understand?


• Is it consistent with your other summaries in terms of style and depth?


• Does it provide sufficient detail without being overly verbose?


• Self-correction: Sometimes you realize a "key theme" is actually a sub-theme of another, or that a quote is more illustrative than another.

Tips for Success

• Allocate Dedicated Time: Creating good summaries takes focused effort.


• Be Consistent: Stick to your template and process rigorously.


• Memo as You Go: Use the "Analyst's Reflections" section to capture all your initial thoughts, questions, and nascent theoretical ideas. This is vital for your analytical journey.


• Don't Over-analyze at this Stage: The goal is to summarize and describe, with some initial interpretive notes. Deep analysis comes later.


• Anonymity: Always ensure participant anonymity by using IDs, pseudonyms, and removing identifying details.

By diligently following these steps, you will create a robust set of case summaries that will serve as an invaluable resource for your subsequent qualitative longitudinal data analysis, enabling you to effectively track change, identify patterns, and build compelling narratives.