This post will make reference to certain products, but it doesn’t matter what brand you use, and RIVA is in no way affiliated to the items listed or recommended below.
When you’re a qualitative analyst, you get to the inevitable stage in your qualitative project where you’ve finally received your transcripts and it’s time to start coding. To some, this process can be overwhelming, particularly if you have half a dozen or more events to sift through.
In a previous #AskaRIVATrainer episode, I talked about my tips and tricks to coding. [If interested, you can view that here: https://www.facebook.com/rivamarketresearchandtraining/videos/2209842702698596 ].
Here, I want to mention all the things that help me get through the process. I do want to mention early in the post that I prefer to code things by hands [not on my computer] which means that I print out my transcripts before even beginning to code – so all of my essentials are for that method.
The Essentials
- Hard copy of the Moderator Guide
I code by color coordinated [further discussed in #2] so I need to have a copy of the Moderator’s guide so I can make sure I have a key to the colors I’m using. This will also help me track where questions got answered, what questions didn’t get asked in the QREs, and what general issue areas I’ll be covering in the report. - Pastel highlighters – You can use whatever brand you like, but my favorite are the Zebra Mildliners in pastel shades
Highlighters make for quick and easy coding. I color code my highlights based on the Moderator’s guide and, additionally, any stimulus that was shown. I like the pastels because they often come in a wider variety of colors and they aren’t too dark which won’t black out anything you’re trying to read. - Post-it tabs – the small ones. As long as they stick, they’re good!
Flags can be used to indicate pages where a particularly stand-out quotation is you want to use and can be quickly located. As well, where you segment out different parts of the transcripts. It’s really dealer’s choice. - Gel pen – I prefer the Sharpie S-Gel because I like how it glides and makes for quick writing to jot down notes.
I like to star key themes that arise that I know I want to include for our Client in the report, underline quotations that capture something I want to mention, and make notes of ideas for the report. [These ideas could be something as simple as what I want to say about a particular idea or as creative for a title for a section that comes to mind while I’m coding.]
With the right tools, you can accomplish amazing outcomes!
Written by: Brittany Mohammed, Qualitative Training & Research Specialist