Qualitative Data Analysis: When to Utilize Manual Coding or

Software-aided Coding such as Nvivo

Philip Adu, Ph.D.

Methodology Expert National Center for Academic & Dissertation Excellence (NCADE)

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Codes

Categories

Themes

Theory

A code is a word, phrase, or sentence that represents aspect(s) of a data or captures the essence or feature(s) of a data

Assigning labels to

Data 1. Interview transcripts

2. Documents 3. Artifacts

4. Field notes

What is coding?

(Saldana, 2013)

Qualitative findings

Roles

Representing the data

Addressing the research question(s)

“Qualitative analysis is about reducing data without losing its meaning” ~Philip Adu

Outline

• Coding Process

• Coding Strategies/Methods

• Manual Coding Vs. Electronic Coding (Distinction)

• Conducting Manual Coding Using Word Document (Six Simple Steps)

• Conducting Electronic Coding Using Nvivo Software

Coding Process

Coding Strategies/Methods

1. Attribute coding 2. Emotion coding 3. Evaluation coding 4. In Vivo coding 5. Magnitude coding 6. Process coding 7. Values coding 8. Themeing data

Essence • To ensure consistency across the codes generated

in terms of helping to address the research question(s)

• To facilitate sorting and categorize process

(Saldana, 2013)

Coding Strategies/Methods Suggested: If you plan to capture participants’ realities...

Coding Methods Function Examples

Attribute Coding Coding features of research site(s), participant(s), and material(s) being studied

Participants’ age, gender, & educational level

Emotion Coding Coding participants’ sentiments, feelings, reactions, excitements and sensations

• From participants’ viewpoint • From researcher's standpoint

Hopelessness Anxiety Pessimism Denial

In Vivo Coding Coding by using participants’ own words “Never again” “Pay back time” “No negotiation”

Value Coding Coding participants’ “values [V], attitudes [A], and beliefs [B]” (p. 268)

[V] – Education [A] – Sense of uncertainty [B] – Existence of discrimination

(Saldana, 2013)

Coding Strategies/Methods Suggested: If you plan to understand a phenomenon...

Coding Methods Function Examples

Evaluation coding • “Assign[ing] judgments” (p. 119) (-) ‘Foreign’ to them (-) Not part of program planning (+) Sense of independence (+) Increase in family income (-) increase in domestic violence

Magnitude coding Assigning “intensity, frequency, direction, presence, or evaluative content” to code(s)

High, Moderate & low income; present & absent motivation; more & less determined

Process Coding • Also called action coding • Coding “observable activity” and/or

“conceptual action” (p. 96)

Walking; cooking breakfast; checking emails; making calls; enjoying music; reflecting

Themeing data • Using phrase or sentence to describe or capture the meaning of an aspect of a data

Ability to take care of their children Ability to pay bills Ability to have time with their children

(Saldana, 2013)

Manual Vs Electronic Coding Manual Coding Electronic Coding

Tools Paper, pencil, pen, note cards, hard copy of the transcripts or documents, artifact to be coded Word document (using comment or ‘inset Endnote’ function), excel spreadsheet

Computer-Aided Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) such as Nvivo, Atlas ti, and Transana

Usability Easy to use especially when data is not a lot Need to familiarize with the functions of the software before starting analyzing data Recommendation: Watching YouTube instructional videos and practicing

When to use Small data Recommendation: At the initial stage of data analysis – when familiarizing yourself with the data

Large data including videos, and audios that have not been transcribed

Organization Time consuming Easy to organize codes, run queries and code frequencies, explore the relationship between codes, and do ‘memoing’

Conducting Manual Coding Using Word Document: Six Simple Steps

1. Assign labels to your research questions: Anchor codes 2. Use specific coding methods, code relevant statements and put them under

their respective anchor codes 3. Compile a list of initial codes 4. Group codes into their respective anchor codes 5. Group codes under each anchor code and tally frequency 6. Generate categories to address the research/evaluation questions

STEP1: Assign labels to your research questions: Anchor codes

An anchor code is a label assigned to a research question. The essence of assigning codes to your research questions is to help in organizing codes, which are assigned to parts of the data under each research question.

• Example: As you can see below the anchor codes for research questions 1 and 2 are ‘initial needs’ and ‘activities’ respectively.

1. Initial needs – What were children’s initial needs?

2. Activities – What are specific activities in the club that may have contributed to the abilities and benefits gained?

STEP2: Use specific coding methods, code relevant statements and put them under their respective

anchor codes • Identify and use coding methods that best fit the type of research questions you have

• Examples : Structure coding , magnitude coding, evaluation coding, emotion coding, In Vivo coding, process coding

• On a word document, click on the ‘review’ tab (and using ‘New comment’ option)

You could click on the link below to view a video about this process: http://www.slideshare.net/kontorphilip/coding-qualitative-data-using

STEP2: Use specific coding methods, code relevant statements and put them under their respective

anchor codes

STEP3: Compile a list of initial codes and arrange them alphabetically

STEP4: Group codes into their respective anchor codes

STEP5: Group codes and tally frequency

STEP6: Generate categories to address the research questions

Looking for:

• Relationship among codes

• Frequency of the codes

• Underlying concept based on combination of codes

Visualizing Codes, Categories and Themes Generated

Creating ‘Word Cloud’ using an online software called wordle (http://www.wordle.net/create)

• Displaying word frequencies – the bigger the font the higher the frequency.

Visualizing Codes, Categories and Themes Generated

Creating ‘Concept Map’ using an software called cmap (http://cmap.ihmc.us/products/)

• Displaying relationship between categories and themes

Conducting Electronic Coding Using Nvivo Software

Basic Functions of Nvivo

1. Importing files

2. Analyzing data

3. Visualizing findings

4. Exporting findings

Importing Files

• Word document • pdf • Audio • Video • Information from:

• Social Media (eg. Twitter, Facebook) • Website

• Pictures

Using ‘Ncapture’

Importing files Click on ‘External Data’ tab

1. Click on ‘External Data’ tab

Analyzing Data: Running Queries: Initial Analysis

Click on ‘Query’ tab

1. Click on ‘Query’ tab

Analyzing data: Running Queries: Initial Analysis

Click on ‘Query’ tab and starting with ‘Word Frequency’

Creating Word Cloud

Analyzing Data: Running Queries: Initial Analysis

Clicking on ‘Query’ tab and using ‘Word tree’

Creating Word Tree

Analyzing Data

Using ‘Create’ tab to create documents, memos, nodes (or codes) etc.

1. Click on ‘Create’ tab

Analyzing Data: Coding relevant statements into nodes

2. Select the statement

you want to code

5. Choose from these

options

4. Go to “Code

Selection”

3. Right-click on the

selected portion

Tip: Think about your research questions when generating nodes/codes. • Remember, nodes generated

should represent the data and at the same time address the research questions.

1. First, double-click the

document you plan to work on

Data’ tab

Analyzing Data: Generate categories/themes based on the nodes/codes

Code = ‘Node’ in Nvivo Category /theme =

‘Parent node’ in Nvivo Sub category/theme =

‘Child node’ in Nvivo

Analyzing Data: Generate categories/themes based on the nodes/codes

Looking for:

• Relationship among codes

• Frequency of the codes

• Underlying concept based on combination of codes

Visualizing Findings: Using an ‘Explore’ tab

1. Click on ‘Explore’ tab

Visualizing Findings: Click on ‘Explore’ tab and using ‘Cluster Analysis’ command

Tip: This diagram could help in grouping the nodes to develop categories and themes

1. Click on ‘Explore’ tab

2. Click on ‘Cluster Analysis’

Exporting Findings Exporting Nodes

1. Click on the ‘Nodes’

tab

4. Go to ‘Export’

2. Select the nodes you

want to export

5. Click on ‘Export Nodes’

3. Right-click on the

selected Nodes

Exporting Findings Exporting Cluster Analysis Diagram

1. Right-click the diagram 2. Click on

‘Export Diagram’

Exporting Findings Exporting Word Cloud Diagram

1. Right-click the diagram

2. Click on ‘Export

Word Cloud’

Resources

• Manual coding process: http://www.slideshare.net/kontorphilip/coding-qualitative-data-using (Video)

• Using Nvivo (Videos): • www.qsrinternational.com

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oelXFnJ-7Ms

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YyVySrV2cM

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4crQbeHKhtk

• Saldana, J. (2013). The coding manual for qualitative researchers. London: Sage

Resources

About Transcription Options • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3_goHuBqDg (Video about transcription options)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL9YwIbvXyo (this video explains how to use ‘Express Scribe Transcription’, a software that aids manual transcription)

• To download for free go to: http://www.nch.com.au/scribe/

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U5VV5lgUu8 (Video about using Nvivo to transcribe manually)

• http://download.cnet.com/Any-Video-Converter/3000-2194_4-10661456.html (“Any Video Converter”, a free software to convert the files could be helpful)

ncade.me@thechicagoschool.edu

Philip Adu, Ph.D. Methodology Expert

National Center for Academic & Dissertation Excellence (NCADE)

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