This process of breaking the pieces down and then putting them back together through analysis ensures that the researcher consider all for the data equally and limits the bias that might introduced. Rather, when a researcher uses the open coding process, he/she look at each line of text individually and without consideration for the others. First, since the categories have been listed open coding, it is unclear from where the categories have been derived. Rather, they move right into arranging the entire statements into the various categories that have been pre-identified. Using different colored text for memos makes it easy to differentiate thoughts from the data. This technique allows the researcher time to reflect on how his/her biases might affect the analysis. In addition, memos will be a reminder of issues that need to be addressed if there is an opportunity for follow up data collection. It is also useful to include memos to remind yourself of what you were thinking and allow you to reflect on the initial interpretations as you engage in the next two analytic steps. Numbering the lines is helpful so that the researcher can make notes regarding which comments they might like to quote in their report. Codes would be based on the research questions, literature review, and theoretical perspective articulated. This is reflected in the congruencies and incongruencies reflected in the memos and relational matrix.Ĭodes for the qualitative data are created through a line by line analysis of the comments. Intertwined within this three step process, this example engages in content analysis techniques as described by Patton (1987) through which coherent and salient themes and patterns are identified throughout the data. The constant comparative process involved thinking about how these comments were interrelated. The specific analytic plan in this exercise involved a constant comparative (Glaser & Strauss, 1967) approach that included a three-step process of open coding, categorizing, and synthesizing themes. There are many ways cited in the literature to analyze qualitative data. Note that different researchers would come up with different results based on their specific research questions, literature review findings, and theoretical perspective. The following is an example of how to engage in a three step analytic process of coding, categorizing, and identifying themes within the data presented.

Axial coding nvivo