Cited by 746Qualitative Research Methods and ApplicationsQualitative Research Methods and EthicsData Analysis and Archiving

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Thinking about the Coding Process in Qualitative Data Analysis

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Elliott, Victoria·2018·The Qualitative Report

DOI 10.46743/2160-3715/2018.3560

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Abstract

Coding is a ubiquitous part of the qualitative research process, but it is often under-considered in research methods training and literature. This article explores a number of questions about the coding process which are often raised by beginning researchers, in the light of the recommendations of methods textbooks and the factors which contribute to an answer to these questions. I argue for a conceptualisation of coding as a decision-making process, in which decisions about aspects of coding such as density, frequency, size of data pieces to be coded, are all made by individual researchers in line with their methodological background, their research design and research questions, and the practicalities of their study. This has implications for the way that coding is carried out by researchers at all stages of their careers, as it requires that coding decisions should be made in the context of an individual study, not once and for all.

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Authors: Elliott, V.
Affiliations: University of Oxford (GB)
Corresponding author: Elliott, Victoria
ORCID: Elliott, Victoria
Venue: The Qualitative Report
Publisher: Nova Southeastern University
Published: 2018-11-24
ISSN: 1052-0147 (ISSN-L)
2160-3715
DOI: 10.46743/2160-3715/2018.3560
OpenAlex: W2902680660
Cited by: 746
References: 34
Citations by year: 2026: 47 · 2025: 110 · 2024: 110 · 2023: 136 · 2022: 113 · 2021: 126 · 2020: 82 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 1
FWCI: 186.36
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: cc-by-nc-sa
Locations: The Qualitative Report (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
NSUWorks (Nova Southeastern University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
Topics: Social Sciences › Education › Qualitative Research Methods and Applications
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Qualitative Research Methods and Ethics
Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Data Analysis and Archiving
Keywords: qualitative data analysis, coding process, research design, research questions, research training

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Thinking about the Coding Process in Qualitative Data Analysis

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