2E Second Edition The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers ‘This book fills a major gap in qualitative research methods courses. Saldaña has accomplished what has not been done before - creating a text that clearly identifies the many choices one has in coding their data. I wish I had this book when I started conducting qualitative research. It should be required reading for all.’ Mark Winton, Criminal Justice Instructor, University of Central Florida ‘An excellent handbook that helps demystify the coding process with a comprehensive assessment of different coding types, examples and exercises. As such it is a valuable teaching resource and it will also be of use to anyone undertaking qualitative analysis.’ Kevin Meethan, Associate Professor in Sociology, Plymouth University The ‘The Coding Manual describes the qualitative coding process with clarity and expertise. Its wide array of strategies, from the more straightforward to the more complex, are skillfully explained and exemplified. This extremely usable manual is a must-have resource for qualitative researchers at all levels.’ Coding Manual for Tara M. Brown, Assistant Professor of Education, Brandeis University The second edition of Johnny Saldaña’s international bestseller provides an in-depth guide to the Qualitative Researchers multiple approaches available for coding qualitative data. Fully up-to-date, it includes new chapters, more coding techniques and an additional glossary. Clear, practical and authoritative, the book: • Describes how coding initiates qualitative data analysis • Demonstrates the writing of analytic memos • Discusses available analytic software • Suggests how best to use The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers for particular studies In total, 32 coding methods are profiled that can be applied to a range of research genres from grounded theory to phenomenology to narrative inquiry. For each approach, Saldaña discusses the method’s origins, a description of the method, practical applications and a clearly illustrated example with analytic follow-up. A unique and invaluable reference for students, teachers and practitioners of qualitative inquiry, this Saldaña book is essential reading across the social sciences. Johnny Saldaña Johnny Saldaña is a Professor of Theatre at Arizona State University. saldana_coding 2e_aw.indd 1-3 20/09/2012 11:38 00-Saldana-Prelims.indd 1 31/07/2012 7:05:03 PM SAGE has been part of the global academic community since 1965, supporting high quality research and learning that transforms society and our understanding of individuals, groups and cultures. SAGE is the independent, innovative, natural home for authors, editors and societies who share our commitment and passion for the social sciences. Find out more at: www.sagepublications.com 00-Saldana-Prelims.indd 2 31/07/2012 7:05:03 PM 00-Saldana-Prelims.indd 3 31/07/2012 7:05:06 PM SAGE Publications Ltd © Johnny Saldaña 2013 1 Oliver’s Yard 55 City Road First edition published 2009 London EC1Y 1SP Reprinted 2009, 2010 (three times), 2011 (twice), 2012 (twice) This second edition published 2013 SAGE Publications Inc. 2455 Teller Road Thousand Oaks, California 91320 Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the SAGE Publications India Pvt Ltd Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, this publication B 1/I 1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form, or by Mathura Road any means, only with the prior permission in writing of the New Delhi 110 044 publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright SAGE Publications Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside 3 Church Street those terms should be sent to the publishers. #10-04 Samsung Hub Singapore 049483 Editor: Jai Seaman Editorial assistant: Anna Horvai Production editor: Rachel Eley Copyeditor: Neville Hankins Library of Congress Control Number: 2012932600 Proofreader: Derek Markham Marketing manager: Ben Sherwood British Library Cataloguing in Publication data Cover design: Jennifer Crisp Typeset by: C&M Digitals (P) Ltd, Chennai, India A catalogue record for this book is available from Printed by: MPG Books Group, Bodmin, the British Library Cornwall ISBN 978-1-44624-736-5 ISBN 978-1-44624-737-2 (pbk) 00-Saldana-Prelims.indd 4 31/07/2012 7:05:06 PM Abbreviated Contents About the Author xvi Preface to the Second Edition xvii Acknowledgements xx One An Introduction to Codes and Coding 1 Two Writing Analytic Memos 41 Three First Cycle Coding Methods 58 Four After First Cycle Coding 187 Five Second Cycle Coding Methods 207 Six After Second Cycle Coding 246 Appendix A A Glossary of Coding Methods 261 Appendix B A Glossary of Analytic Recommendations 269 Appendix C Field Note, Interview Transcript, and Document Samples for Coding 274 Appendix D Exercises and Activities for Coding and Qualitative Data Analytic Skill Development 279 References 283 Index 299 00-Saldana-Prelims.indd 5 31/07/2012 7:05:06 PM 00-Saldana-Prelims.indd 6 31/07/2012 7:05:06 PM Contents About the Author xvi Preface to the Second Edition xvii Acknowledgements xx One An Introduction to Codes and Coding 1 Chapter Summary 1 Purposes of the Manual 1 What Is a Code? 3 Coding examples 4 Coding for patterns 5 Coding filters 7 Coding as a heuristic 8 Codifying and Categorizing 9 From codes to categories 9 Recoding and recategorizing 10 From codes and categories to theory 12 The differences between codes and themes 14 What Gets Coded? 15 Units of social organization 15 The coded researcher 16 Amounts of data to code 16 The Mechanics of Coding 17 Data layout 17 Pre-coding 19 Preliminary jottings 20 Questions to consider as you code 21 Coding contrasting data 22 The Numbers of Codes 22 “Lumping” and “splitting” the data 22 The quantities of qualities 24 The codebook or code list 24 Manual and CAQDAS Coding 25 Coding manually 26 Coding electronically 28 Data formatting for CAQDAS 30 00-Saldana-Prelims.indd 7 31/07/2012 7:05:06 PM Coding capabilities with CAQDAS 30 Searches and queries with CAQDAS 32 Solo and Team Coding 34 Coding collaboratively 34 Coding solo 35 Necessary Personal Attributes for Coding 36 On Method 37 Critiques against coding 38 Coding as craft 40 Two Writing Analytic Memos 41 Chapter Summary 41 The Purposes of Analytic Memo Writing 41 What is an Analytic Memo? 41 Examples of Analytic Memos 43 Reflection and refraction 50 Coding and Categorizing Analytic Memos 50 Analytic memos generate codes and categories 51 Grounded Theory and its Coding Canon 51 Analytic Memos on Visual Data 52 Documents and artifacts 54 Live and video recorded action 55 Recommended guidance 56 Three First Cycle Coding Methods 58 Chapter Summary 58 The Coding Cycles 58 Selecting the Appropriate Coding Method(s) 59 Various perspectives on coding decisions 60 Research question alignment 60 Paradigmatic, conceptual, and methodological considerations 61 Coding and a priori goals 62 Coding in mixed methods studies 62 Exploratory coding 63 “Generic” coding methods 64 New and hybrid coding schemes 64 General criteria for coding decisions 64 On overwhelming fear 66 Overview of First Cycle Coding Methods 66 The Coding Methods Profiles 67 Sources 67 Description 67 Applications 67 Example 68 Analysis 68 Notes 69 viii THE CODING MANUAL FOR QUALITATIVE RESEARCHERS 00-Saldana-Prelims.indd 8 31/07/2012 7:05:07 PM Grammatical Methods 69 Attribute Coding 69 Sources 69 Description 70 Applications 70 Examples 70 Analysis 71 Notes 72 Magnitude Coding 72 Sources 72 Description 72 Applications 73 Examples 73 Analysis 75 Notes 77 Subcoding 77 Sources 77 Description 77 Applications 78 Example 78 Analysis 79 Notes 80 Simultaneous Coding 80 Source 80 Description 80 Applications 80 Examples 81 Analysis 82 Notes 83 Elemental Methods 83 Structural Coding 84 Sources 84 Description 84 Applications 84 Example 84 Analysis 86 Notes 87 Descriptive Coding 87 Sources 87 Description 88 Applications 88 Example 88 Analysis 89 Notes 91 In Vivo Coding 91 CONTENTS ix 00-Saldana-Prelims.indd 9 31/07/2012 7:05:07 PM Sources 91 Description 91 Applications 91 Example 92 Analysis 92 Notes 95 Process Coding 96 Sources 96 Description 96 Applications 96 Example 97 Analysis 98 Notes 100 Initial Coding 100 Sources 100 Description 100 Applications 101 Example 101 Analysis 103 Notes 105 Affective Methods 105 Emotion Coding 105 Sources 105 Description 105 Applications 105 Example 106 Analysis 107 Notes 110 Values Coding 110 Sources 110 Description 110 Applications 111 Example 111 Analysis 112 Notes 115 Versus Coding 115 Sources 115 Description 115 Applications 115 Example 116 Analysis 116 Notes 118 Evaluation Coding 119 Sources 119 Description 119 x THE CODING MANUAL FOR QUALITATIVE RESEARCHERS 00-Saldana-Prelims.indd 10 31/07/2012 7:05:07 PM Applications 119 Example 119 Analysis 121 Notes 122 Literary and Language Methods 123 Dramaturgical Coding 123 Sources 123 Description 123 Applications 124 Example 124 Analysis 125 Notes 127 Motif Coding 128 Sources 128 Description 128 Applications 128 Example 129 Analysis 130 Notes 131 Narrative Coding 131 Sources 131 Description 131 Applications 132 Example 132 Analysis 133 Notes 136 Verbal Exchange Coding 136 Source 136 Description 136 Applications 138 Example 138 Analysis 140 Notes 141 Exploratory Methods 141 Holistic Coding 142 Source 142 Description 142 Applications 142 Example 143 Analysis 143 Notes 144 Provisional Coding 144 Sources 144 Description