Qualitative analysis of interview data: A step-by-step guide for coding/indexing
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 18 พ.ค. 2013
- Video shows coding (also known as indexing) and thematic analysis. It applies to qualitative data analysis in general. Do not forget to share this TH-cam link with your friends.
The steps are also described in writing below (Click Show more):
STEP 1, reading the transcripts
1.1. Browse through all transcripts, as a whole.
1.2. Make notes about your impressions.
1.3. Read the transcripts again, one by one.
1.4. Read very carefully, line by line.
STEP 2, labeling relevant pieces
2.1. Label relevant words, phrases, sentences, or sections.
2.2. Labels can be about actions, activities, concepts, differences, opinions, processes, or whatever you think is relevant.
2.3. You might decide that something is relevant to code because:
*it is repeated in several places;
*the interviewee explicitly states that it is important;
*you have read about something similar in reports, e.g. scientific articles;
*it reminds you of a theory or a concept;
*or for some other reason that you think is relevant.
You can use preconceived theories and concepts, be open-minded, aim for a description of things that are superficial, or aim for a conceptualization of underlying patterns. It is all up to you.
It is your study and your choice of methodology. You are the interpreter and these phenomena are highlighted because you consider them important. Just make sure that you tell your reader about your methodology, under the heading Method. Be unbiased, stay close to the data, i.e. the transcripts, and do not hesitate to code plenty of phenomena. You can have lots of codes, even hundreds.
STEP 3, decide which codes are the most important, and create categories by bringing several codes together
3.1. Go through all the codes created in the previous step. Read them, with a pen in your hand.
3.2. You can create new codes by combining two or more codes.
3.3. You do not have to use all the codes that you created in the previous step.
3.4. In fact, many of these initial codes can now be dropped.
3.5. Keep the codes that you think are important and group them together in the way you want.
3.6. Create categories. (You can call them themes if you want.)
3.7. The categories do not have to be of the same type. They can be about objects, processes, differences, or whatever.
3.8. Be unbiased, creative and open-minded.
3.9. Your work now, compared to the previous steps, is on a more general, abstract level. You are conceptualizing your data.
STEP 4, label categories and decide which are the most relevant and how they are connected to each other
4.1. Label the categories. Here are some examples:
Adaptation (Category)
Updating rulebook (sub-category)
Changing schedule (sub-category)
New routines (sub-category)
Seeking information (Category)
Talking to colleagues (sub-category)
Reading journals (sub-category)
Attending meetings (sub-category)
Problem-solving (Category)
Locate and fix problems fast (sub-category)
Quick alarm systems (sub-category)
4.2. Describe the connections between them.
4.3. The categories and connections are the main results of your study. It is new knowledge about the world, from the perspective of the participants in your study.
STEP 5, some options
5.1. Decide if there is a hierarchy among the categories.
5.2. Decide if one category is more important than the other.
5.3. Draw a figure to summarize your results.
STEP 6, write up your results
6.1. Under the heading Results, describe the categories and how they are connected. Use a neutral voice, and do not interpret your results.
6.2. Under the heading Discussion, write out your interpretations and discuss your results. Interpret the results in light of, for example:
*results from similar, previous studies published in relevant scientific journals;
*theories or concepts from your field;
*other relevant aspects.
STEP 7 Ending remark
Nb: it is also OK not to divide the data into segments. Narrative analysis of interview transcripts, for example, does not rely on the fragmentation of the interview data. (Narrative analysis is not discussed in this tutorial.)
Further, I have assumed that your task is to make sense of a lot of unstructured data, i.e. that you have qualitative data in the form of interview transcripts. However, remember that most of the things I have said in this tutorial are basic, and also apply to qualitative analysis in general. You can use the steps described in this tutorial to analyze:
*notes from participatory observations;
*documents;
*web pages;
*or other types of qualitative data.
STEP 8 Suggested reading
Alan Bryman's book: 'Social Research Methods' published by Oxford University Press.
Steinar Kvale's and Svend Brinkmann's book 'InterViews: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing' published by SAGE.
Text and video (including audio) © Kent Löfgren, Sweden
This is how you refer to this source in APA Style:
Löfgren, K. [kentlofgren]. (2013, May 19). Qualitative analysis of interview data: A step-by-step guide [Video file]. Retrieved from (put the URL to the film here)
Note: Write the title of the video in italics.
🙌🏽❤️
Thank you so much!
Thank you
bless u omg
So sorry to ask but could you direct me to how to write the invitation for potential candidates to attend the interviews for the research? Thanks so much
I can't thank you enough! I've read numerous books and articles but this is the only thing that has given me a clear understanding of qualitative analysis. You are a life saver.
+iampaxo I had the same experience earlier, too, and decided to (try to) simplify as much as possible.
me tooo! why is that books are like that? hahaha
Agree. My supervisor kept telling me to read those articles about qualitative analysis but the problem is they are not practical for a beginner who' s going to start their first qualitative analysis.
Can we say We develop a scale after thematic Analysis, but before Pilot study?? As i am going to conduct a research for my thesis. I will do thematic Analysis, Then thems will be counvert into Scale items/scale. But I am not interesting to do pilot study for thesis work, Is that right or Should I go for Pilot study as well???? Plz give you valuable suggestions.
Yes. Same here. I've downloaded so many power points and pdfs, surf the net and read books, and it really messed me up not until i saw this video. Thanks a lot from Philippines with love!
Your voice is ASMR for researchers - I can't thank you enough for clarifying and calming in one go.
Thank you. This tutorial taught me in few minutes what I could not learn in an entire semester.
Same here, Rajshree! I agree with you.
its amazing how a good mentor makes all the difference
Seven years later, you helped another person. Honestly, thank you!!
Glad to hear it!
STEPS MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO
Step1: Reading the transcripts
Step2: Labeling relevant pieces
Step3: Decide which codes are the most important, and create categories by bringing several codes together
Step4: Label categories and decide which are the most relevant and how they are connected to each other
Step5: Decide if there is a hierarchy among the categories, if one category is more important than the other or draw a figure to summarize your results.
Step6: Write up your results
it's like an easier version of an easy version. lmao thanks
thank you crismarie
Step7: $$$!!!Profit!!!$$$
@Nayan Kadam I'm pretty sure there is no 'correct' approach to Coding data, just the one most appropriate for your own research aims and objectives :) This is just a thorough way of doing it
Is it possible to work manually with large data? What could be other method please explain.
As a second-semester PhD student, I can say that this is very informative, useful, and easy to understand. Thank you, Dr. Löfgren!
I am here because we international students can't go back to school due to the pandemic. But the local students are starting school now. Our school decided that we won't get online class and the teacher didn't send us any materials. We have no idea what we are studying yet we have to finish the group project and assignment. I guess I'll just watch youtube video and learn how to do my assignment since the school didn't even care about us. I'm so freaking lost rn, coz no one will listen to us 😭 thank u for this tutorial
Which country is your school located bro?
Once again, a youtube video solved my strugles. This was exactly what I needed in my graduation research. Thank you, Kent, for this helpful and clear video.
The most simplified guide on qualitative data analysis ever! Thank you a bunch for sharing this!
Thank you! This is such a great help! The books I was reading were leaving me more confused than when I started. Your video cleared up many questions I had.
I am really greatful for this video. I have up to 7 standard books on qualitative research and seemed very overwhelmed with the sheer amount of data including the interview transcripts that I had generated. I had very little time and was really overwhelmed and didnt know what to do next until I came across this video. Thank you!
Thanks for this! Dissertation due in two weeks and I've yet to analyse my data but this has been so helpful!
Thank you so much!!! You've been able to help me get rid of that "drowning in data" feeling. been stuck on this dissertation a while and having someone explain this with examples is priceless.
After reading for days about qualitative analysis and feeling more and more confused your presentation finally gave me something I can work with.
Kent - hurrah! Wonderfully presented - wow. Simple, but complete. And your vocal style is really, really relaxing for us harried would-be-researchers. Working on my first real research paper as a graduate student. I am usually close to tears under the cascade of data and formal requirements. I'm so glad your video was a top hit on Google. Thank you.
Thanks ,, it just save my life man. Easy, simple, super clear, thank you very much!
Ahh you legend, all the reading I've done have muddled my thoughts on how to code interviews, but this video is a god send. Pretty much have saved my dissertation haha
you will have a very special thank you note in my phd thesis :)
The best video I watched in 2019, made my life so much better and wiped so much stress out of my mind
Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial, Mr. Kent. It was crystal clear and easy to comprehend. All the best for you!
I can read books forever and it rarely gives me the integral overall information I need. Your audio tutorial has consolidated my general preconceptions of doing analysis and also given me additional concepts and processes. Many Thanks.
Thank you SO much for sharing this. I am doing my masters and my research involves qualitative interviews. I was feeling very overwhelmed by all the resources and texts out there, and this really helped simplify things for me! I really appreciate this short, simple, and accessible explanation of the possible steps :)
This was exactly what I needed! Thank you so much for putting it so concisely!
Thanks Kent. I have been a qual practitioner for 30 years and internalized the analysic process completely. Now I have to explain the process to students and your video has helped me a lot. Of course there is so much more to say about this beautiful process of analytic reasoning, but this gives us a firm basis.
Thank you for this video!! I read a lot everywhere, trying to understand the main steps of this analysis and no one is like yours
THIS is awesome! Thank you so much for this video! Most people just tend to make things more complicated than what it actually is, but you explain it all in a simple & straightforward way. Now I know what to do with my data. :)
A very nice and clear video. I am trying to combine qualitative data from interviews, questionnaires and observations and I already learned a little bit about coding, but this video really helped in how to structure it. This will certainly help me with writing my master thesis! Thanks Kent Löfgren
Had a two hours lecture on this topic but didn't even understand a bit about what to do. This has been helpful. Thank you!
Thank you so much! I'm in the middle of the qualitative research of my Master thesis and this clear construction helps me get familiar with the steps I have to take!
Thank you Kent, this makes it easier to understand research analysis. Thank you for spending the time to help people with their projects.
Thank you! In a doctoral world of abstract, philosophical explanations, it is nice to have a clear simple explanations of how to make sense of interview data. Thanks! Aaron C. Kingsley - Exeter University
Very kind of you. This is precisely the aim I had in mind when recording it.
This is very helpful Kent. I use it in one of my classes. I've probably shown it to a few hundred students at this point. Thank you.
I would like to say thank you for this very short and precise video.. I found it very useful. Keep up the great work !
I totally concur. I will definitely share this with my colleagues, its easy to go through the process with these guidelines. You are indeed a life saver.
Thank you so much for this video! I have struggled so much trying to understand the thematic analysis process and thanks to you it has now become clear. Really am very grateful
Brief and informative, what an excellent video!
Fantastic video - really helped me wrap my head around how to analyze interview data for a graduate school class project.
I finally understand! Been going around in circles about this. Thanks very much!
This is the best step by step guide on youtube. Thank you so much, very helpful.
I was to gave up my degree and throw my thesis until I watched this. Many thanks you save my day!!!
Nice to hear. Good luck!
You just made my day Sir! I am completing a Master Degree Program in Project Management at Karlstad University Sweden. After my interviews- i had lots of materials to code and was getting frustrated as i was not going to be able to use the Coding method. After this video- i am so motivated that i can do Coding as best as they come! A million thanks for making life easy for me
lol, I am also using this for my Bachelor thesis in Project Management in Czech Republic! :D
Sitting on a huge pile of data right now. This video is so simple and so clear. Thank you!
Thank you for the clear, helpful explanation. I understand the examples in my books and articles, but when I was trying to do my own coding, I was feeling very uncertain. Your video really clarified some of the processes.
This is just so great... You melted my fears in less than 7 minutes. Many thanks sire!
Hi! I'm from Indonesia and I saw this video for my thesis. Thanks for lots of information, I need them a lot. Thank you, Sir!👍🏻
After scouring the internet for the best part of 3 days looking for info on a research methods assignment I had to do, this is the only thing that has truly helped me. Thank you kind sir :)
Thank you for this - I have spent all day looking for clear information but none was helpful! Very informative.
Thanks, I appreciate the compliment.
Thank you Ken. Your video was very helpful.
Keep up the good work..You are making a positive impact with your videos.
Thank you so much! Your voice is so calming and it makes me understand better. A big hug from central america!
Thank you, Kent. Short and sweet!
I was able to quickly browse through and gather all the information I need without watching the whole video. all thanks to your informative scripts and neat, bullet point presentation. Thank you very much.
You are a lifesaver! Really nice put, simply written! Blessings!
thank you thank you so much. I was at a loss and didn't know where or how to start. your video is a saver! Good job!! :)
Wow! This is everything I needed. Simple yet very much effective. Thank you!
Thank you so much Kent, this has been very helpful. Also doing a little research along the business lines, and your words resonate very much with my way of thinking and organising info, seeing patterns etc. I was feeling alittle overwhelmed, although new I would be able to find patterns eventually, your clip helped me touch ground level again and see it as not such a huge task after all. Remembering that it just requires time and a thoughtful process. I also wanted to add that I found your voice lovely to listen to and if I needed "eye candy", you have a little picture below the video so all good :).
I'm glad the content helped you forward and that you enjoyed the format (sound). I put a lot of time and effort into most of my videos, including making the sound/voice clear and smooth.
Kent, I've been teaching QDA for several years and I greatly appreciate the clarity of your explanation--you said in a few minutes that it usually takes me a couple of hours to explain. Great job.
+Ross Sackett Thanks! Always nice to hear from a colleague. As we know, trying to define various methods, theories, and research traditions can be a bit... tricky :-) It's like a minefield sometimes.
Really well done! Such a concise explanation of the steps and terms. Bravo!
Your voice was so cool ya & make me calm Mr Kent! and thank you sooo much for making me understand. You make the thing so easy and simple to understand! Keep it up and upload more video ya!
Thanks a lot Kent!You've really helped me with my thesis project!
Great video, simple and to the point. Thank you!
This is an amazing, rich and precise video. Thank you for sharing!
I subscribed so I could repeatedly review - your video is clarifying what I must do as I prepare to do coding of interviews. Thank you.
Thank you very much for such simple and clear instructions on how to code and categorize the data. The more books I've read, it was less and less clear to me what it was all about. But thanks to your video it all came together in my head! :)
This is incredibly helpful. Thank you so much for this Kent.
Being completely new to social science methods of analysis and coming from a quantitative background,
I cannot thank you enough for this helpful video!
Really helped me with analysing my interview answers for my masters dissertation! Thanks
Referred to this video to make sure that i was on the right track. Extremely helpful. Thanks!
Thank you!!!! Just found this gem! I appreciate your information!
Jeez! THANK YOU!!! I put that in caps to represent my deep appreciation. Indeed, there are teachers and there are TEACHERS! 🙌
Glad it was helpful! Good luck with your projects!
Thank you Kent, I will definitely do this, you make it easier than it seems.
I teach action research at a graduate level. This is a very helpful resource for my students. Thank you for creating such a clear, brief explanation.
This is a fantastic video. Nice and concise and I like how it is broken down into steps. This is just what I needed.
You have helped me to understand the concept and process on qualitatitive date management. I am now able to explain it to my students. Thanks so much.
This has been the best tutorial video I have always needed! It worked, and I thank you so much! (liked & Subscribed).
You have helped to simplify what I already thought but doubted was legit. Ready to proceed with my analysis thanks to your invaluable help from your tutorial
Thank you, this has been really useful for making sense of performing the analysis for my master's thesis!
I study at Lund University and found this very informative for my ongoing research , thank you !
Wonderful, just what I have been looking for, for months. Thank you very much, Sir Kent
Thanks a lot! Very concise and most helpful for a first-timer of qualitative data analysis!
your voice is so calming, never have I ever wanted an educational video to last longer...
and thank you so much! i have my dissertation to hand in three days and this is god send.
You got this!
Thank you so so much for this video, as a first year uni student i have been struggling with coding for weeks now.
thank you very much! This is clearer than any other books online!
Still changing the lives of everyday researchers and students.. thanks Kent
Kent you beautiful man. Thank you so much for uploading!
The best video i have stumbled into as I embark on my qualitative data analysis. Thank you very much.
Whenever you come to India, the Beer is on me :D
Thanks a lot man
This is an excellent explanation of the analytical process - well done, and thank you for compiling this!!
Very well described. Your coverage was exhaustive and succinct.
Thank you very much . This short video made my life easier, I have no enough words to really thank you and show my appreciation
I love how you are effortlessly explaining this with simplicity. Thank you so much.
Thank you for your kind comment; best wishes!
Clear, concise, simple. Thank you for this video.
I appreciate your chill and knowledgeable approach.
thank you so much for making this - it was so helpful! :D
One of the most helpful tutorials I've ever seen- thank you for being so clear!
Glad it was helpful!
Tack för en UTOMORDENTLIGT välgjord och användbar guide :D
Once again, another video that has helped me immensely in my dissertation. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I am moving job roles [I hope] and having knowledge of Thematic Analysis is a key point for the new potential role. Thank you so much for this, my friend. :)
i have attended your lecture carefully & thoroughly, and found it very interesting, because currently I am doing my thesis of masters in qualitative method in situation soft ware for QUAD analysis, so your lecture helps in data analysis. thank you so mach. Teklu merga, oromia,western Ethiopia,Africa