Coding for Qualitative Research

One of the integral pieces of doing qualitative research is being able to code your data well, in preparation for your analysis. This is often a step that we get questions about so we've prepared this guide to point you to some useful readings, videos, etc on how you can approach qualitative coding. The fundamentals of coding are independent of whether you do it manually or use software such as NVivo: you need to understand basic principles in both cases.

A Great Starting Point: Sage Research Methods

The Sage Research Methods database is a great resource for help with the research process : research design, methodology, data collection & analysis etc. It contains books, book chapters, articles, videos, planning tools and more. Try a search for "coding" and see what you get!

Use the Project Planner (under Research Tools) to help guide you through the stages of research:

Use the Methods Map (under Research Tools) to explore different methods:

Reading Lists:

Create a profile so you can make your own Reading Lists of resources, or search public Reading Lists (under Research Tools) to find lists created on a topic by other Sage users. You can also share your reading lists with others. For example, here's a brief Reading List of books and videos we prepared on Coding your data

Some Books from Our Collection

NOTE: In addition to coming into the library to borrow print books you can still also use our Curbside Pick-up & Mail Delivery service

Codes and Coding, from the Sage encyclopedia of qualitative research methods
- for a brief overview to get you started

Saldaña, Johnny. (2016). The coding manual for qualitative research
- We only have print copies of this because the publisher does not sell an electronic version to libraries, but individuals can buy online (use drop-down menu for options). It's an in-depth guide to each of the multiple approaches available for coding qualitative data. In total, 32 different approaches to coding are covered
- Saldaña's more general Fundamentals of qualitative research IS available online
Auerbach, C.F. & Silverstein, L.B. (2003). Qualitative data : an introduction to coding and analysis
-A print copy can also be borrowed
Lichtman, M. (2017). Qualitative research for the social sciences.
- Gives an overview of the whole research process, but see in particular Chapter 12: Drawing meaning from the data
Schreier, M. (2012). Qualitative content analysis in practice
- much of the book deals with setting up a coding frame for your data
Tracy, S.J. (2019). Qualitative research methods: Collecting evidence, crafting analysis, communicating impact
- Gives an overview of the whole research process, but see in particular Chapter 9: Data analysis basics
Vanover, C., Mihas, P., & Saldaña, J. (2022). Analyzing and interpreting qualitative research: After the interview.
- lots of case studies, see in particular
Section 3: Strategies for coding and categorizing data

Videos

Qualitative analysis of interview data: A step-by-step guide for coding/indexing - Kent Löfgren
Coding - Graham R. Gibbs, this is a recording of a lecture, divided into 5 parts. (Sound quality is not the greatest)
Grounded Theory Playlist - Graham R. Gibbs , a number of videos in the playlist focus on different types of coding used in grounded theory research
Duke University's ModU - from their Social Science Research Unit, a whole series of videos on qualitative research methods, including a number that focus on coding:
Sage Research Methods: you can do a keyword search, for example: "coding" and limit your results to content type=videos