Pertains to discrete observations that are not interpreted, organized or structured
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What is qualitative research?Qualitative research is research that utilizes non-numerical from methods such as observations, in depth interviews, or focus groups, or by analyzing content such as documents, or records. Analysis deals with words, meaning, and interpretation. Qualitative data collection methodsThere are many methods of qualitative data collection methods, and each have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. You should select a qualitative methodology that is best suited for answering your research questions. There are more methodologies than what I’ve listed here, but here are some examples.
Learn more about qualitative methods of research here. Types of qualitative dataQualitative data is non-numerical data that is produced from qualitative research methods. Any of these can be used in data coding.
See more information and examples of qualitative data. Qualitative analysis doesn't have to be overwhelmingTake Delve's free online course to learn how to find themes and patterns in your qualitative data. Get started here.
How to transcribe an interviewAfter conducting an interview, transcription will allow you to take the contents of the interview and effectively analyse it. Coding interviews requires a transcript. You can transcribe with varying levels of specificity, and utilize various methods from doing it manually, with auto-transcription software, or by outsourcing to transcription services. When transcribing, choose the type of transcription you want to do, then listen to audio and type out the transcription while designating who the speaker is, a timestamp, and the dialogue contents of the transcription. These transcriptions are the first step for coding interviews. Types of transcriptions
Learn more about how to transcribe interviews. Introduction to Coding Qualitative Data
What is qualitative coding?Qualitative coding is a process of systematically categorizing excerpts in your qualitative data in order to find themes and patterns. It enables you to take unstructured or semi-structured data such as transcripts from in-depth interviews or focus groups and structure it into themes and patterns for analysis. Coding your qualitative data makes your analysis more systematic and rigorous. It also provides transparency and reflexivity to both yourself and others. It’ll enable you to find insights that are truly representative of your data and the human stories behind them. Benefits of qualitative coding
How do you code qualitative data?The process of coding qualitative data varies widely depending on the objective of your research. But in general, it involves a process of reading through your data, applying codes to excerpts, conducting various rounds of coding, grouping codes according to themes, and then making interpretations that lead to your ultimate research findings. You may start with an initial round of coding to summarize or describe excerpts, and then do a second round of coding that adds your own interpretive lens. There’s no right or wrong way to code a set of data, just some approaches that are more or less appropriate depending on your research objective. Below are various types of coding, which you can mix and match according to what works for you. Deductive and inductive approaches to qualitative codingBefore coding in qualitative research, you should decide if you want to start off with a set of codes and stick with them (deductive coding), come up with the codes as you read what you see in your data (inductive coding), or take a combination approach. Inductive codingGround up coding Inductive coding is a ground-up approach where you derive your codes from the data. You don’t start with preconceived notions of what the codes should be, but allow the narrative or theory to emerge from the raw data itself. This is great for exploratory research or times when you want to come up with a new theories, ideas or concepts. Deductive CodingTop down coding Deductive coding is a top down approach where you start by developing a codebook with your initial set of codes. This set could be based on your research questions or an existing research framework or theory. You then read through the data and assign excerpts to codes. At the end of your analysis, your codes should still closely resemble the codebook that you started off with. This is good when you have a pre-determined structure for how you need your final findings to be. For example, program evaluation studies may utilize a deductive coding approach. See how to create a qualitative codebook. Combining inductive and deductive approachesIn practice, research studies often combine both deductive and inductive approaches to coding. For example, you could deductively start with a set of codes, but then inductively come up with new codes and iterate on the codes as you sift through your data. Read more about inductive and deductive coding. Steps for coding qualitative dataHow to do coding:
1. Do your first round pass at coding qualitative dataYour first round pass of coding qualitative data involves reading the data and assigning codes to various excerpts. This step is fast and loose. Don’t worry so much about creating the perfect codes since you’ll be iterating and evolving the codes as you go onto the second pass at coding, and beyond. So how do you determine what to name the codes and what parts of the data to code? Here are some examples of types of coding methods that are commonly used in the first round pass. Examples of coding: In Vivo CodingUsing the participant’s own words With In Vivo coding, you code an excerpt based on a participant’s own words, and not your own interpretation as a researcher. You’re trying to utilize the participant’s own spoken language and stay as close to their intent and meaning as possible. In Vivo coding is often used as a first step to summarize passages into single words or phrases extracted from the interview itself. It is a common form of interview coding. See how to do in vivo coding and an in vivo coding qualitative data example. Process CodingCapturing an action With Process coding, you use codes to communicate an action in the qualitative data. Codes will typically be gerunds that end with “ing”. See how to do process coding. Open CodingAn initial round of loose and tentative coding With Open coding, you break down the qualitative data into discrete excerpts. The codes represent a label, description, definition, or category name. The codes produced in a round of open coding are meant to be loose and tentative and subject to evolve and change as you code in further rounds. See how to do open, axial and selective coding. Descriptive CodingWith Descriptive coding, you summarize the content of the text into a description. The code name should be a word or a noun that encapsulates the contents of the qualitative data. See how to do descriptive coding. Structural CodingWith structural coding, you categorize sections of your text according to a specific structure with the intent to continue analyzing within these structures. It’s a way to break your qualitative data into smaller increments. For example if you’re analyzing a semi-structured interview, you may have a question-based code that classifies all the answers to that question. See how to do structural coding. Values CodingWith Values coding, you code excerpts that pertain to the participant’s values, attitudes, and beliefs. Simultaneous CodingSimultaneous coding is a method of qualitative coding where a single excerpt of qualitative data is coded with multiple codes. See how to do simultaneous coding 2. Organize your codes into categories and subcodesAfter your first round pass at coding qualitative data, you can begin to group your codes into categories. These categories can be organized in a variety of ways. Within each category, you can group together codes that are similar to each other, or pertain to the same topics or general concept. Iterate on these categories and move the codes around until you find a structure that makes sense for your analysis. Watch webinarSee the step by step process of qualitative coding3. Do further rounds of coding qualitative dataNext, do further rounds of coding qualitative data to re-examine the codes and categories you’ve created so far. In this phase, you may re-name, re-code, merge codes, and re-categorize the work you’ve done so far. While the first round pass at coding data was fast and loose, these rounds of coding are about reanalyzing, finding patterns, and getting closer to developing theories and concepts. In general you should be reducing the number of codes from your initial round of coding, and actively reflecting on how to best categorize the codes you have. Here are some methods of coding qualitative data that are commonly used in second round coding and beyond. Read about various types of coding. Thematic Analysis CodingFind recurring patterns and themes Thematic analysis coding is utilized when you’re looking for themes or patterns across your qualitative data set. If you find a pattern within different parts of your qualitative data or see that certain excerpts point to the same underlying idea or meaning, code those excerpts with a unifying code. See how to do thematic analysis. Pattern CodingWith Pattern coding, you group of similarly coded excerpts under one overarching code to describe a pattern. Focused coding / selective codingWith Focused coding, you create a finalized set of codes and categories from your first coding pass (often from “open coding”). You then re-code the qualitative data according to this final code list with the intent to not deviate from it. In comparison to an initial “open coding” pass which allows for emergent and changing codes, focused coding is a method where you don’t intend to change the code list any further. Axial codingWith axial coding, you relate codes or categories to one another. You’re looking for relationships and links between what you found in earlier rounds of coding. See how to do open, axial, and selective coding. Theoretical codingWith theoretical coding, you conceptualize a hypothesis of a theoretical framework through sorting and organizing codes. You structure the codes and categories that emerged from qualitative data into a theory. Elaborative codingWith elaborative coding, you apply a theory from a previous research study and observe whether or not your current codes and categories relate. You can think about it as elaborating on pre-existing theories. Longitudinal codingWith longitudinal coding, you organize your existing codes and categories in a way that enables you to compare them over time. Content analysis codingDirected content analysis is a deductive approach to qualitative analysis where you start with an existing theory or framework and utilize qualitative data to either support or build upon that framework. See our step by step guide to content analysis. 4. Turn codes and categories into your final narrativeAfter these rounds of coding qualitative data, and doing various types of coding, you take those codes and categories and use them to construct your final narrative. Depending on the purpose of your research, the final outcome of your research can take many forms: a theory, a set of findings, or a narrative. In this phase you combine the creativity of structuring a narrative with the analytical nature of connecting your narrative to your codes and theories grounded in qualitative data. Start writing out your theory, findings, and narrative, and reference the codes and categories that were used to inform them. Now, structure these into your final research deliverable. Try Delve, Software for Qualitative CodingOnline qualitative research software such as Delve can help streamline how you’re coding your qualitative coding. Try a 14 day free trial of Delve. Validity and reliability in qualitative researchIt is important to consider validity and reliability when conducting qualitative research no matter what type of coding you’re practicing. Here are some approaches you can consider practicing to increase your research’s reliability. Peer debriefingPeer briefing is the process of working with one or more neutral, independent peers to enhance the credibility of qualitative research. See how to do peer debriefing. Practicing reflexivityReflexivity involves examining your own judgments, practices, and belief systems during the data collection process. The goal of being reflexive is to identify any personal beliefs that may have incidentally affected the research. See how to practice reflexivity. Intercoder reliabilityIntercoder reliability ensures that when you have multiple researchers coding a set of qualitative data, that they come to the same conclusions. See how to do inter coder reliability. Negative case analysisNegative case analysis involves finding and discussing contradictory qualitative data emerging from your working hypothesis or theory. See how to do negative case analysis. Depending on the amount of qualitative data you need to analyze, and various constraints around your research, you can code by hand, using word processors and spreadsheets such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, or use Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software such as Delve. There are pros and cons to each approach, and you should choose one based off what is most appropriate for your research. Read more about how to code qualitative data. How to code qualitative data by hand
How to code qualitative data in Word
How to code qualitative data in Excel
How to code qualitative data using CAQDAS
Try the Delve Software for Qualitative CodingOnline software such as Delve can help streamline how you’re coding your qualitative coding. Try a free trial or watch a demo of the Delve. References
An unstructured interview is a type of interview in which the questions or the order in which they are asked are predetermined.
Ethnographic research is a qualitative research method that involves studying people in their natural environment to understand their culture, beliefs, and practices.
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee or group charged with reviewing human studies and protecting the rights and welfare of participants.
Symbolic interaction theory is a sociology theory that seeks to understand human conduct by focusing on symbols that help us give meaning to experiences in our life.
Qualitative data is non-numerical data that is produced from qualitative research methods. The following are examples of qualitative data that can be used for analysis in research.
A semi-structured interview is a data collection method that combines the elements of structured and unstructured interviews.
Mixed methods research is the combination and integration of the components of qualitative and quantitative research methods in a single study.
Qualitative phenomenological research design is a qualitative research technique that seeks to understand the essence of a phenomenon by studying lived experiences at a conscious level.
An analyst’s perspective or beliefs impact research outcomes, making reflexivity vital in qualitative research.
Program evaluation is the systematic assessment of a program to determine the extent to which it achieves its intended goals and objectives. What are the 3 components of nursing informatics?The competency of nursing informatics specialists was determined through studying three categories including computer skills, informatics knowledge and informatics skills.. 1 Computer Skills. ... . 2 Informatics Knowledge. ... . 3 Informatics Skills.. What process produces a blueprint that details how hardware and software meet the needs of the organization *?What process produces a blueprint that details how hardware and software meet the needs of the organization? Benchmarking.
What system that directly assist healthcare providers in interpretation of data and in making clinically related decision?Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are computer-based programs that analyze data within EHRs to provide prompts and reminders to assist health care providers in implementing evidence-based clinical guidelines at the point of care.
What computerClinical information systems are computer-based systems designed for collecting, storing, manipulating and making available clinical information important to the healthcare delivery process.
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