What is the Rigorous and Accelerated Data Reduction (RADaR) Technique in Qualitative Research?

The rigorous and accelerated data reduction (RADaR) technique in qualitative data analysis is a technique that uses a team-based approach to coding and analyzing qualitative data.

The RADaR technique was developed for the purpose of analyzing various types (e.g., focus groups, interviews, case studies, existing documents, etc.) and quantities (e.g., 5 case studies, 12 individual interviews, 8 focus groups, etc.) of qualitative data for the purpose of pulling out relevant data that can be incorporated into one or two specific project deliverables. These project deliverables could range from peer-reviewed manuscripts for scientific journals to a thesis, final project report, conference presentations, book chapters, and health promotion materials.

You can read step-by-step instructions for how to use the RADaR technique here: 

Watkins, D.C. (2017). Rapid and rigorous qualitative data analysis: The RADaR technique for applied research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 16(1):1-9. DOI: 10.1177/1609406917712131

*** The RADaR Technique has been cited over 300 times worldwide! ***

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Here are some publications where the RADaR technique is described and/or used: 

  1. Varma, D.S., Samuels, E., Piatt, G., Watkins, D. C., Spiroff, M., Cottler, L., Gaxiola, S. A., & Murphy, S. L., (2022). Community health workers and promotoras’ perspectives of a research best practice course: A focus group study. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science.
  2. Ribeiro Brown, B., Williams, E.-D.G., Abelson, J.M., Chandrakapure, A., & Watkins, D.C. (2022) An Exploratory Case Study of the Types of Resources Black Boys Use to Support Their Mental Health. Healthcare 2022, 10, 1082. https:// doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10061082
  3. Watkins, D. C., Goodwill, J. R., Johnson, N. C., Casanova, A., Wei, T., Allen, J. O., Williams, E. G., Anyiwo, N., Jackson, Z., Talley, L. M., & Abelson, J. M. (2020). An online behavioral health intervention promoting mental health, manhood, and social support for Black men: The YBMen project. American Journal of Men’s Health, 14(4): 1-17.
  4. Goodwill, J.R., Anyiwo, N., Williams, E.G., Johnson, N.C., Mattis, J., & Watkins, D. C. (2019). Media representations of popular culture and the construction of Black masculinities. Psychology of Men and Masculinity.  
  5. Goodwill, J. R., Watkins, D. C., Johnson, N. C., & Allen, J. O. (2018). An exploratory study of coping among Black college men. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. PMID: 29345477 DOI:10.1037/ort0000313
  6. Wharton, T., Watkins, D. C., Mitchell, J. A., & Kales, H. C. (2018). Older, Church-going African-Americans’ Attitudes and Expectations about Formal Depression Care. Research on Aging, 40(1): 3-26. DOI: 10.1177/0164027516675666. PMID: 27784820
  7. Watkins, D. C., Allen, J. O., Goodwill, J. R., & Noel, B. (2017). Strengths and weaknesses of the Young Black Men, Masculinities, and Mental Health (YBMen) Facebook Project. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 87(4), 392-401. PMID: 27977287
  8. Akinyemi, E., Watkins, D. C., Kavanagh, J., Johnson-Lawrence, V.D., Lynn, S., & Kales, H. C. (2017). A qualitative comparison of DSM depression criteria to language used by older church-going African Americans. Aging and Mental Health, 14:1-7.
  9. Kales, H. C., Gitlin, L. N., Stanislawski, B., Marx, K., Turnwald, M., Watkins, D.C., & Lyketsos, C. G. (2017). WeCareAdvisor™: The development of a caregiver-focused, web-based program to assess and manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders – An International Journal, 31(3): 263-270.
  10. Watkins, D. C., Wharton, T., Mitchell, J. A., Matusko, N., Kales, H. (2017). Perceptions and receptivity of non-spousal family support: A mixed methods study of psychological distress among older, church-going African American men. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 11(4): 487-509. DOI: 10.1177/1558689815622707
  11. Jefferson, S. O., Watkins, D. C., & Mitchell, J.A. (2016). The retrospective roles of black women in the coddling of black boys. Journal of Cultural and Ethnic Diversity in Social Work, 25(3), 173-192.
  12. Watkins, D. C. & Gioia, D. (2015). Mixed methods research. Pocket Guides to Social Work Research Methods Series. Oxford University Press: New York, NY. ISBN 9780199747450.
  13. Hawkins, J., Watkins, D. C., Kieffer, E., Spencer, M., Espitia, N., Sinco, B., & Anderson, M. (2015). Structural and psychosocial factors that influence health care use and self-management for African American and Latino men with type 2 diabetes: An exploratory study. Journal of Men’s Studies, 23(2), 161-176.
  14. Watkins, D.C., Abelson, J. M., & Jefferson, S. O. (2013). ‘Their depression is something different… it would have to be:’ Findings from a qualitative study of black women’s perceptions of black men’s depression. American Journal of Men’s Health, 7(4S): 42-54. doi: 10.1177/1557988313493697
  15. Watkins, D. C., Hunt, J., & Eisenberg, D. (2012). Increased demand for mental health services on college campuses: Perspective from administrators. Qualitative Social Work, 11(3): 319-337.
  16. Watkins, D. C., Smith, L.C., Kerber, K., Kuebler, J., & Himle, J. (2011). E-mail as a depression self- management tool: A needs assessment to determine patients’ interests and preferences. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 17(7): 378-381. doi: 10.1258/jtt.2011.110105. PMID: 21933895
  17. Watkins, D. C. & Neighbors, H. W. (2007). An initial exploration of what ‘mental health’ means to young black men. Journal of Men’s Health and Gender, 4(3): 271-282.
  18. Watkins, D. C., Green, B. L., Goodson, P., Guidry, J., & Stanley, C. A. (2007). Using focus groups to explore the stressful life events of black college men. Journal of College Student Development, 48(1): 105-118.