Regardless of the type of memo produced, what is important is that the process initiates critical thinking and productivity in the research. It is crucial to begin memoing at the onset of research. Qualitative research is inherently reflexive as the researcher delves deeper into their subject, it is important to chronicle their own thought processes through reflective or methodological memos, as doing so may highlight their own subjective interpretations of data. Memos Ĭreating memos during the coding process is integral to both grounded and a priori coding approaches. The process generally involves identifying themes from the existing codes, reducing the themes to a manageable number, creating hierarchies within the themes and then linking themes together through theoretical modeling. Some examples of qualitative software packages include Atlas.ti, MAXQDA, NVivo, QDA Miner, and RQDA.Īfter assembling codes it is time to organize them into broader themes and categories. The process can be done manually, which can be as simple as highlighting different concepts with different colours, or fed into a software package. Simultaneous Coding: When same parts of the data have different meanings and two or more codes are applied to the same parts, then this kind of coding is called Simultaneous Coding.The primary and secondary codes are often called parent and children codes. It serves the purpose of adding detail to a code. This involves assigning primary and second order codes to a word or phrase. Sub-coding: Other names of this method are embedded coding, nested coding or joint coding.In doing so, the research may discern patterns in world views. Values Coding: codes that attempt to exhibit the inferred values, attitudes and beliefs of participants.These can be both conceptual and grounded objects. The goal is to see which processes and organizations are in conflict with each other throughout the document. Versus Coding: uses binary terms to describe groups and processes.It is useful for examining processes, emotional phases and rituals. Process Coding: this method uses gerunds ("-ing" words) only to describe and display actions throughout the document.The objective is to attempt to give the participants a voice in the research. In Vivo Coding: codes terms and phrases used by the participants themselves.Some examples of first cycle coding methods include: Not all methods can be applied to every type of document. There are a multitude of methods available, and a researcher will want to pick one that is suited for the format and nature of their documents. Prior to constructing categories, a researcher might apply a first and second cycle coding methods. 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.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |