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This is a forum where qualitative researchers can share tips and techniques related to Doing Qualitative Research Using Your Computer (Sage Publications). The blog is moderated by author, Christopher Hahn, Ph.D. Readers are encouraged to share innovations and seek help. The Blog is organized according to chapters in the book. Add your comments to the appropriate chapter. Downloads and templates related to the book are at qrtips.com.
Reader/Author Dialog
- - Introduction to coding terminology
- 1 How do I combine interview transcripts with data from case study forms in the code database?
- 2 Is is okay to create a Level 1 code document without a table of codes and/or a table of contents?
- 3 Tips for a Literature Review Database in Access
- 4 Where should I store my analytic memos? I am using Excel for my code database.
- 5 After Level 2 coding, what data do I print from the code database for Level 3 and Level 4 coding?
Archive
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2008
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June
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- Reader/Author Dialog
- Chapter 1 - Introduction, Coding Terminology, and ...
- Chapter 2 - Getting started - Planning your qualit...
- Chapter 3 - Organizing and controlling your research
- Chapter 4 - Backing up your data
- Chapter 5 - Collecting your data
- Chapter 6 - Level 1 Coding using Word
- Chapter 7 - Level 2 Coding using Access
- Chapter 8 - Level 2 Coding using Excel
- Chapter 9 - Level 3 and Level 4 (Theoretical Conce...
- Chapter 10 - Writing the report, thesis, dissertat...
- Appendix - Microsoft Office Basics
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June
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25 comments:
Please post comments, questions, and/or success stories.
Good book on describing the research process for qualitative analysis. Unfortunately, has a gaping hole in not exploring the numerous qualitative data analysis (QDA) software packages available - such as NVivo, Atlas.ti, and MAXQDA. Using a QDA software package is alot more efficient and simplier than using MS Office.
Anonymous, You are correct about the lack of coverage in the book about QDA programs. I originally intended more coverage of QDA/CAQDAS programs. As I was writing the book I did an extensive review of NVivo and Atlas.ti. I did not review MAXQDA. I had fun exploring the QDA programs but I decided that they were too big a topic for this book; it would be fun to write a whole book on QDA programs. I kept the focus of Doing Qualitative Research Using Your Computer: A Practical Guide on lower budget qualitative projects. Thanks for the comment. Chris Hahn
Just because NVIVO and ATLAS TI are the most POPULAR programs doesn't mean that they are necesarily any better than using Office programs; appeal to popularity fallacy. Go to QSR and type in MS Access and MS Excel and they only tell you how to use those programs to bring material into their programs.
Saul Cohn Kansas State
Dr. Hahn,
Not sure if you answered this already. I'm starting to code data from documents, extant texts, and audio and video files. I won't be able to do interviews for at least another month. Should I only code documents at Level 1(initial coding) so that I code the interviews at the same level? Or should I take the codes from the documents past Level 1?
Thanks,
Saul Cohn
“I'm starting to code data from documents, extant texts, and audio and video files. I won't be able to do interviews for at least another month. Should I only code documents at Level 1(initial coding) so that I code the interviews at the same level? Or should I take the codes from the documents past Level 1? “
Saul,
Good question. I suggest that you commence Level 1 coding of the non-interview data ASAP. This allows you get your systems in place and to get a head start on coding. I would wait, however, to go to Level 2 coding before you have completed your interviews. Qualitative discovery is a remarkable process that benefits from immersion into the complete body of data. You may be creating a false bias if you commence high level coding before the bulk of your first-pass data is collected.
Chris Hahn
Dr. Hahn,
I was able to generate tables but an having problems with the Table of Codes. I'm able to mark citations but not sure about bringing a Table of Codes(authorities) into a document(final report or the code document itself. I'm not sure how to create the Table of Codes on pg. 98 or updating the Table of codes field. Part of the problem is I'm using Word 2007 which is different from the book.
Thanks a bunch!!
Saul Cohn KSU
Saul,
The table of codes/authorities is an advanced feature of Word, but it is really handy when you want to review the Level 1 codes you already created.
Page 100 (below the big exclamation point) has the instructions for inserting a table of codes/authorities. How are the commands different in Word 2007? You might need to use the Word help (F1) to figure out how to insert a table of authorities.
Chris Hahn
Breaking levy 1
Concerning dependent populations 1
Favorable institutional response 1
Favorable social response 1
Fearing river rise 1
Keeping on 2
Mandatory evacuations 1
Playing with putty 2
Preparing for an uncertain future 1
pretty good slice of what suburban neighborhoods and much of the city look like this evening 1
Representing new reality 1
Seriousness of situation 1
Timing important 1
Voluntary evacuation 1
Waiting for July 2
Got it done. Pretty ugly when loses formatting ha ha!! I was wondering what the numbers represented now I see they ar epage numbers which is very handy! On to Table of Contents!
I've worked with SASS so this is just a matter of getting the keystrokes down.
Oh for Word 2007 just click on References tab then Mark citations. I use a combination of keystrokes and point and click. Point and click to mark a citation and keystrokes to get rid of nasty formatting marks.
Great book learning alot! Created tables for data and Table of Codes all in 4-5 hours with a lot of experimentation.
Saul KSU
Great work Saul! You are right... you learn a lot about Word when you code your research like this. I always hoped that users would have a sense of experimentation when they set up their projects. It is fun and rewarding to be creative. The skills are helpful for years to come.
Just a comment on your codes... take a look at the brief discussion of gerunds in the middle of page 96. I try to use gerunds for my level one codes whenever possible.
Chris Hahn
Dr. Hahn, thanks for the encouragement and the advice on gerunds. That data was just an example to learn to work with your book. From what you have said about the Table of Contents, the "favorable institutional response" would probably go under the TOC since it is more of a context variable rather than an initial code, correct? Just a thought: Its amazing when you start to use gerunds how research ideas come to you. It has really stoked idea generation for me.
Saul
Saul,
When I first started gerunds for my Level 1 codes I had the same reaction. Gerunds help frame the thinking process while inventing Level 1 codes. Thanks to Glaser and Charmaz for the tip.
I am not sure what your research topic is, so it is hard for me to comment on the makeup of your Table of Contents. Generally I use the Table of Contents for analytic memos to myself and to tag the location of names or other content I want to easily locate in the future.
The code phrases you put in your Table of Codes are used to directly help answer your research question; the Table of Contents is used to catalog supporting ideas and factoids.
Chris Hahn
Dr. Hahn,
I'm looking at voluntary associations and there impact on illegal immigration debate. Some context variables might include global inequality, impact of 911, border patrol issues, laws that impact immigration.
On page 59 of your dissertation, you have a TOC entry("changed to one week rotation") and an initial code("Listening to son who wanted to change custody"). In your dissertation and in the book analytic memos are always in a datbase program(I'm using Access).
I was under the impression that analytic memos, along with TOC and TOC entries, can be in the center column of the code document. Is this right? The problem would be that the middle column might get unruly with text.
Thanks,
SAul
Saul,
You bring up an excellent point about lengthy memos. Indeed, they would clog the middle column of the code document. I tend to keep lengthy memos in Word files in very specific “My Documents” directories. This technique is cumbersome unless the user is very comfortable with naming files, as well as, creating and editing directories.
A great alternative that allows you to keep lengthy memos in the code document is to use Word’s footnote feature. Put a memo title (summary in a few words) in the middle column of the document, and then ramble as much as you want on the bottom of the page.
From Word 2003 the commands are Insert > Reference > Footnote.
As I say in the book, memo creation is important to the analytic process. You don’t want to forget the insight that occurs while coding. Keeping memos in the code document with the footnotes feature is easy to do, so it doesn’t get in the way of your stream of consciousness, and the memos are easy to revisit.
Also, I am glad you are using Access. It is the best way to go for readers who are not intimidated by technology.
Chris Hahn
Dr. Hahn,
I hear you about Access. I want to get stuck down the line not be able to retrieve information(query system through Access).
That makes sense to use footnotes. Do you know, what also would be good to use? Balloons. What I like better about balloons , is there a lot easier to work with, I feel, within documents than footnotes. Reordering footnotes can be a pain, while adding or deleting comments in balloons is much easier.
Peace,
SAul
I must be sleeping.. I meant I DON'T want to get caught not being able to retrieve information easily, which happenned to a professor of mine who organized his data with Excel.
Saul, Sorry for the delay in my reply. I tried balloons but found that they got in my way of viewing the underlying data... personal preference. One of the great things about the Office tools is the facilitation of creativity and the customizability of the software for each person and project. There are so many tools and so little time to learn them all. Chris Hahn
I'll post a comment about Excel in the Chapter 8 section of the Blog.
Chris,
I am a late-in-life EdD candidate preparing an ethnographic dissertation. I am also an advanced user of MS Office apps. Found your book last week; enjoyed the read; and having fun playing with template(s).
I have 2 questions relating to the impact of different procedures on the functionality of your templates (i.e I'm NOT asking you what is better QR methodology).
1a. Would your template be any less functional if I C&P'd the text snips directly into the Access database and add codes later while in Access?
1b. If I need a code doc of the kind you suggest, I can create that directly from Access data reports later on, no?
NOTE: My advisors are encouraging me to parse the transcriptions now (while still in the interview process), but code later (after interviews are complete).
2. I would rather assign broad headings to Level 1 with Level 2 and 3 being subsets (like a code tree), reserving Level 4 for other classifications. Is there anything about your Access template (entry, query or reports)that would suggest I not do it this way (i.e. reversing the one-to-many; many-to-one relationships you describe for levels 1,2,&3?
Good work!
Thanks for your reply.
Burt (in New England USA)
Burt,
Thanks for the comments. My specific responses follow…
1a. The problem with putting your text data directly into Access is the lack of formatting tools in Access. In Word you can use all of the fancy tools such as color, underlining, bold, italics, etc. to identify subsets of the data. You also lose Table of Contents and Indexing capabilities. You could place your original data directly in Access, but you would lose the formatting functionality.
1b. If you put your data directly into Access, my guess is that you would skip the code document step. This is probably okay, but you don't really have the full original intact data set unless you are using selective audio transcription (see page 104). I don’t like the idea of parsing any substantive data from your transcript while in the interview process. You lose the ability to go back and re-examine the context of the most interesting data. I can see why one might want to do that if the coding was being done in a non-computer-based manner, but since you are using modern technology more options are available to you. You need to make the call in how you handle this. Perhaps your topic and methodology does not necessitate the preservation of the complete transcript.
2. By all means, I support your customization of the Level 1, 2, 3, etc. subsets. I encourage creativity. Please make a system that is just right for your project.
Chris Hahn
From my point of vue, the bundle QDA Miner and WordStat is the best text analysis tool on the market. It allows one to combine the automatic and manual way to analyze text data.
For more info: http://provalisresearch.com/products/prosuite/
Help! Chris H or anyone. Where can I find the access and excel templates - the original site no longer exists.
regards
Kenn Iskov
I have the same question.
LOVE the book and have completed all the Level 1 coding of my interviews, then went to look for the excel template only to find the site was not there (qrtips.com/chapter8).
Has anyone found it? Or could you please pass the template on if you have it?
Following advice from my son, I searched the internet archive and found all the downloadable files and templates: Very helpful
https://web.archive.org/ and search for qrtips.com
Thank you!! (And thank your son for me:)
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