Coding qualitative data

Question 1

What is coding

Answer 1

Assigning labels to words in text to capture the essence or important overall message of that particular text
Enables compiling and analysing data by separating it into chunks

Question 2

How can coding work?

Answer 2

Highlighting words/sections and annotating with the essence of what theyre saying to be accurate to what theyre saying

Question 3

Why do we need coding?

Answer 3

Crucial step of qualitative analysis
Develop the transferable skill of identifying key themes and relationships

Question 4

What is the method of coding based on?

Answer 4

Philosophical framework
Aims of the research
AKA the methodology

Question 5

Practicalities of coding: list of what we can do

Answer 5

Physical on paper with highlighter/pen
On microsoft word with highlighter/comments
Software eg NVivo

Question 6

Evaluation of physical coding

Answer 6

Good = cognitive benefit of understanding what is being said
Bad = more time consuming

Question 7

When to code?

Answer 7

Thoughts start on Day 1
Make notes in reflexive diary, memo notes, interview notes, during transcription
But the formal start varies on philosophy used

Question 8

How does your philosophy lead to when to code?

Answer 8

Should analytical insights inform later data collection?
So should thoughts begin before interviews, after a block of them, or after all has been conducted
Should the previous interviews influence the data collected in the next interviews? –> reflexivity = how your own biases and experiences may impact analysis

Question 9

Types of coding

Answer 9

Descriptive and Latent
Research lead and data led

Question 10

What is type of coding used dependent on?

Answer 10

Methodology eg philosophical underpinnings and method used after that

Question 11

Descriptive coding

Answer 11

Attempts to show the surface level meaning of what the participant is saying

Question 12

Latent coding

Answer 12

Analytical coding: Researchers analysis interpretation, find the underlying meaning between the lines

Question 13

What type of qualitative research is descriptive coding used for?

Answer 13

Experiential coding: aims to ensure we accurately analyse and interpret what the participant means on the surface

Question 14

What type of qualitative research is latent coding used for?

Answer 14

Critical

Question 15

Is descriptive and latent coding mutually exclusive?

Answer 15

No

Question 16

Does latent coding rely on researchers biases/views more?

Answer 16

Yes

Question 17

Researcher lead coding

Answer 17

Deductive based on research question
Directive to pre defined coding, (drawn from existing frameworks/theories)

Question 18

Data lead coding

Answer 18

Code everything that could be relevant line by line
Develop codes/emerge from the data
Undirected
FOr fewer preconceptions about research where little reserahc exists on this

Question 19

Is researcher vs data lead coding mutually exclusive?

Answer 19

No, can use both

Question 20

Why is researcher vs data lead coding not mutually exclusive

Answer 20

Because if start with researcher lead, then new ideas may still be open to emerge
Because if start with data led, while capturing themes may be undirected, the researcher (you) still has to focus a little based on preconceptions and the question they themselves set

Question 21

Interpretist

Answer 21

Sees it as important to read between the lines so like to use data lead coding

Question 22

Realist

Answer 22

Sees it important to take the data as it is so may avoid data lead coding as it leads to more interpretations

Question 23

After initial codes

Answer 23

Refine codes, make more concise
Group related codes under larger/higher level codes?
Ensure there are not multiple codes for the same thing

Question 24

Should contradictory/ anomalous themes be not included?

Answer 24

No may inform contextual differences etc

Question 25

Concept mapping

Answer 25

Presents all the low level codes under its groups of high level codes