[Bandara *, Vol.6 (Iss.7): July 2018] (Received: June 06, 2018 - Accepted: July 21, 2018) ISSN- 2350-0530(O), ISSN- 2394-3629(P) DOI: 10.29121/granthaalayah.v6.i7.2018.1287 Http://www.granthaalayah.com ©International Journal of Research - GRANTHAALAYAH [85] Social ACTIVITY THEORY IS AN EFFECTIVE FRAMEWORK ON QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES STUDIES Dr Senevirathna Bandara *1 *1 Senior Lecturer, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Social Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale Abstract Qualitative and quantitative are main research approaches in research disciplines, in quantitative research methods, the data analysis process is mostly systematic, therefor numerical quantitative data analysis is easy rather than qualitative data analysing in qualitative research studies. Under such a situation qualitative researcher have to use different types of data analysing methods in their data analysing process and this data analysing process also complicated. Grounded Theory and Activity theory are common and easy theories which could be used in qualitative data analysing process. This research paper describes Activity theory (AT) and its advantages in qualitative data analysing procedure and content analysis method was used to collect information (data) for this study. Deferent types of documents were used to analyse the content of Activity Theory (AT), findings and discussing were based on collected information of AT content. Keywords: Qualitative and Quantitative Research Approaches; Activity Theory; Grounded Theory; Content Analysis; Mediation; Subject-Object-Outcome; Division of Labour; Community; Tool; Rules. Cite This Article: Dr Senevirathna Bandara. (2018). “ACTIVITY THEORY IS AN EFFECTIVE FRAMEWORK ON QUALITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES STUDIES.” International Journal of Research - Granthaalayah, 6(7), 85-95. https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v6.i7.2018.1287. 1. Introduction Qualitative data analysis is a difficult issue and complex multidimensional subject for researchers, therefore researchers use different methods in their studies. Some researchers apply various theories or framework on qualitative data analysing process, grounded theory, activity theory are examples for some of theories. Activity theory is a more powerful tool for qualitative data analysis especially in Social Sciences and Education researches, so that nowadays this Activity theory is used in all over the World among qualitative researchers. This review paper articulates the history of Activity theory (AT) and the advantages, applications in Social, cultural, historical field in qualitative inquiries. Activity theory (AT) is a framework or descriptive tool (Nardi, 1996a). The Activity theory (AT) analyses is concluded with the ecology metaphor of policy analyses and it