Adult learning and the compilation and retrieval of data - a practical system for qualitative researchers

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to outline a process to assist adult learners and researchers to capture, streamline and retrieve data for the analysis of content from various resources of information encountered in research. Design/methodology/approach - The system is described, including a rationale for its benefit to qualitative researchers utilising multiple sources of data. Findings - The system is designed mainly to assist the academic expedition of postgraduate students predominantly engaged in qualitative research. It covers theoretical aspects of adult learning principles combined with a systematic method for managing qualitative data. Originality/value ¿ Working from the assumption that adult learners are time-poor and likely to be working full-time, the paper discusses these learners' need for an efficient method of recording and retrieving information and provides a straightforward, cataloguing process which the author developed when conducting postgraduate research.