Research (analytic) memos

Memoranda (memos) are used in everyday life as a record or communication of information.

In some forms of research the analyst is encouraged to write analytic memos as part of the process of analysing data.

In grounded theory (GT) methodology writing memos is used as analytical technique to support the construction of theory.  Memos are a way of recording, reflecting on, and thinking through, the ideas that arise during analysis.

Glaser & Holton explain that

“Theory articulation is facilitated through an extensive and systematic process of memoing that parallels the data analysis process in GT. Memos are theoretical notes about the data and the conceptual connections between categories. The writing of theoretical memos is the core stage in the process of generating theory. If the analyst skips this stage by going directly to sorting or writing up, after coding, he/she is not doing GT.”  (Glaser & Holton, 2004, ¶60)

“The basic goal of memoing is to develop ideas on categories with complete freedom into a memo fund that is highly sort-able. … Early on memos arise from constant comparison of indicators to indicators, then indicators to concepts. Later on memos generate new memos, reading literature generates memos, sorting and writing also generate memos—memoing is never done!” (Glaser & Holton, 2004, ¶64)

Glaser, Barney G. & Holton, Judith (2004) Remodeling Grounded Theory, Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 5(2), Article 4

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