![]() Ĭoding is considered a process of discovery and is done in cycles. As coding methods are applied across various texts, the researcher is able to apply axial coding, which is the process of selecting core thematic categories present in several documents to discover common patterns and relations. Grounded coding refers to allowing notable themes and patterns emerge from the document themselves, where as a priori coding requires the researcher to apply pre-existing theoretical frameworks to analyze the documents. Much of qualitative coding can be attributed to either grounded or a priori coding. Iain Hay (2005) outlines a two-step process beginning with basic coding in order to distinguish overall themes, followed by a more in depth, interpretive code in which more specific trends and patterns can be interpreted. In social sciences, spreadsheets such as Excel and more advanced software packages such as R, Matlab, PSPP/ SPSS, DAP/ SAS, MiniTab and Stata are often used.įor disciplines in which a qualitative format is preferential, including ethnography, humanistic geography or phenomenological psychology a varied approach to coding can be applied. Note that some of the above are not mutually exclusive. Questionnaire data can be pre-coded (process of assigning codes to expected answers on designed questionnaire), field-coded (process of assigning codes as soon as data is available, usually during fieldwork), post-coded (coding of open questions on completed questionnaires) or office-coded (done after fieldwork). There should be clear guidelines for coders (individuals who do the coding) so that code is consistent.įor quantitative analysis, data is coded usually into measured and recorded as nominal or ordinal variables. One code should apply to only one category and categories should be comprehensive.
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