While quantitative results provide the numerical foundation necessary to establish baselines and track trends, qualitative insights offer essential context, enabling a deeper understanding of the numerical data. Written comments can highlight areas for improvement and serve as invaluable assets in formulating action plans. Qualitative analysis of survey comments adds value to reporting survey results in several ways:

1.Voice:

People want their voice to be heard. Using strategies to listen to employees helps build a connection between them and the organization. Providing an opportunity for employees to speak in their own words about their experience in the workplace is crucial. In a recent project, our client faced low participation rates with an internally administered survey comprised solely of rated and multiple-choice questions. However, after partnering with us to design and implement a tailored survey featuring a blend of multiple short-answer queries and fewer than 10 rated/multiple-choice items, the response rate soared to nearly 80%. Notably, every single participant engaged with at least one short-answer question, highlighting the effectiveness of our approach in eliciting valuable insights. Many employees even shared in the comments that they appreciated the opportunity to write about their specific experiences. Often, employees want to explain why they answered rated/multiple choice survey questions a certain way and giving them space to do that is important.

2. Contextual Understanding:

Comment analysis adds depth to numerical findings, helping to interpret statistical results by revealing the stories behind the numbers. It enables organizations to grasp the context, motivations, and underlying sentiments that numbers alone cannot capture. For instance, if a survey report shows low satisfaction, qualitative analysis can reveal the specific issues or experiences contributing to this dissatisfaction.

3. Using targeted analysis to answer an organization’s specific concerns

Certain approaches to qualitative analysis require predetermined themes or ideas about what the comments will reveal. Using these methods, we can delve into the heart of an organization’s concerns with precision and purpose. This structured methodology empowers exploration of targeted concepts, shedding light on nuanced perspectives within the data. Through systematic coding, patterns emerge, offering rich insights into participant perceptions and attitudes. With each theme clearly defined, the analysis reveals the rich variety of thoughts and experiences hidden within survey comments, making it an enlightening journey of discovery.
Another type of targeted approach, sentiment analysis, enriches qualitative analysis by discerning emotional tones within text, unveiling nuanced insights beyond surface meaning. By gauging positivity, negativity, or neutrality, sentiment analysis unveils patterns that might otherwise remain obscured, enhancing the interpretive depth of qualitative data.

4. Identifying Emerging Themes:

Analyzing comments empowers leaders to pinpoint emerging trends within specific departments, career fields, or demographics that might otherwise go unnoticed. For instance, it sheds light on the reasons behind varying levels of satisfaction across different groups, thereby facilitating proactive decision-making.

5. Actionable Recommendations:

Because qualitative analysis can reveal the specific issues or experiences contributing to issues (e.g., dissatisfaction), these insights can inform actionable recommendations for improving programs, procedures, or policies based on the specific needs and preferences of employees. Additionally, it can unveil innovative ideas by employees, providing leaders with valuable insights to capitalize on employee input. It can also highlight concerns voiced by employees, including cumbersome policies or procedures that hinder their progress or success, providing leaders with the opportunity to address issues.

6. Enriched Narratives:

Including quotes or excerpts from written comments into reports and briefs can help to humanize the findings. Sharing perspectives on a survey can sometimes be a personal and vulnerable act. Comment analysis enables receivers to connect with the data on a deeper, more personal level, thereby amplifying the resonance of the message. Incorporating findings and quotes from a comment analysis is an excellent tool to enhance storytelling, which may improve chances of garnering support from senior organizational leaders, prompting them to actively champion and drive forward organizational change initiatives.

Delving into written comments enriches the interpretation of findings by providing context and a deeper insight into employees’ viewpoints. This analysis adds value by identifying emerging themes, guiding actionable recommendations, and enriching the narrative of the survey results.