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Coding Qualitative Data

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Why do we code qualitative data and how do we do it?

By Sharon Dias

Saldan, J. (2013). The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers. Sage Publications.

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What is a code?

“A code in qualitative inquiry is most often a word or short phrase that symbolically assigns a summative, salient, essence-capturing, and/or evocative attribute for a portion of language-based or visual data. “ (Saldana, 2013).

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Different Approaches to Coding Qualitative Data

Inductive & Deductive

  • Open Coding
  • Grounded theory
  • Data-driven assumptions
  • Theory comes afterwards

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  • Theory-driven approach
  • Pre-defined codes
  • Assumptions driven
  • by literature
  • Proof or disprove through
  • the data

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Saldaña (2013), provide us with a model for integrating codes with the categories and theories that can be useful to make the next steps in qualitative analysis.

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Example I

SOCIAL ASPECTS

“My experience was an international student was extremely positive. I got to know different people throughout my school year. Like, every thursday my classmates and I used to go out for a variety of activities, for instance, art exhibition, play sports, games night, special lectures in town and of course, concerts!”

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Example II

CRITIQUE TO

EDUCATION SYSTEM

“I believe formal education news to be reviewed, it drive me nuts that in a world with so much advanced technologies and we do not have access to that through school.”

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Remember!

You can use different words or sentences for the same passages in the slides above. Each researcher can choose how their name their own codes.

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Types of Codes

Examples of what do we code for

Patterns

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  • frequency
  • sequence
  • correspondence
  • causation

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Feelings

  • Sadness
  • Happiness
  • Boredom
  • Anger
  • Frustration
  • Etc.

Trends in Behavior

  • Satisfaction
  • Disatisfaction
  • Want a change

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Wishes, opinions, experiences... It’s not limited!

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What can we use for coding qualitative data?

There are many other possibilities such as Taguette, Atlas, MAXQDA, among other. As many ways as we know as better we can choose the best tool for each project!

Coding being done by hand (Dias, 2021).

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Photo Credits

1 - NVivo Sample Project by Esri Wellbeing in the Older Women's Network

2 - https://chattermill.com/blog/coding-qualitative-data/

- Personal archive, Sharon Dias

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References

Saldana. J. (2013). The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers. Sage Publications Ltda.