[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”35px||0px||false|false” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.04)” custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|||3%|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|||3%|false|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Montserrat|600|||||||” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_font_size=”48px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font_size=”64px” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_3_font_size=”64px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font_size=”64px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font_size=”64px” header_5_line_height=”1.2em” header_6_font_size=”64px” header_6_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”33px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_2_font_size_phone=”33px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_3_font_size_phone=”33px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_4_font_size_phone=”33px” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_5_font_size_phone=”33px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_6_font_size_phone=”33px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”21px” header_text_color=”#000000″ header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_line_height=”1.2em” header_3_font_size=”64px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font_size=”64px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font_size=”64px” header_5_line_height=”1.2em” header_6_font_size=”64px” header_6_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”” header_font_size_phone=”23px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_2_font_size_phone=”33px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_3_font_size_phone=”33px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_4_font_size_phone=”33px” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_5_font_size_phone=”33px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_6_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_6_font_size_phone=”33px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
How To Code Your Qualitative Data – The Smart Way<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Merriweather||on||||||” text_text_color=”#afafaf” text_font_size=”16px” custom_margin=”10px||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Authored By: Dr Eunice Rautenbach<\/a> (D.Tech) | Updated August 2025<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”49px||0px||false|false” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,3_4″ _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” positioning=”none” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” sticky_position=”top” sticky_offset_top=”100px” sticky_limit_bottom=”section” sticky_position_tablet=”none” sticky_position_phone=”none” sticky_position_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/gradcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Sidebar-Ad-Website-4.png” alt=”Free Research Toolkit” title_text=”Sidebar Ad – Website (4)” url=”https:\/\/gradcoach.com\/toolkit\/” url_new_window=”on” align=”center” disabled_on=”on|off|off” admin_label=”Workshop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_horizontal=”5px” box_shadow_vertical=”5px” global_module=”119567″ saved_tabs=”all” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” z_index=”1″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8MHkVtE_sVw” _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#ededed” custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px|true|true” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ locked=”off”]<\/p>\n Qualitative data coding is the first step in making sense of non-numerical data<\/strong> like interviews, documents or videos.<\/p>\n By coding systematically, you\u2019ll make your qualitative data manageable<\/strong> and set yourself up for strong analysis<\/strong>.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A<\/span>s we’ve discussed previously<\/a>, qualitative research makes use of non-numerical data – for example, words, phrases or even images and video. To analyse this kind of data, the first dragon you’ll need to slay is\u00a0qualitative data coding<\/span><\/strong> (or just “coding” if you want to sound cool). But what exactly is coding and how do you do it?<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”3%|3%|3%|3%|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”3%||3%|6%|true|false” custom_padding_phone=”|6%||9%|true|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” border_width_all=”2px” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \ud83d\udd0d What exactly is qualitative data coding<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text module_id=”1″ _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” header_3_font_size_tablet=”” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Let\u2019s start by understanding what a code is. At the simplest level,\u00a0<\/span>a code is a label that describes the content<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0of a piece of text. For example, in the sentence:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cPigeons attacked me and stole my sandwich.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n You could use “pigeons” as a code. This code simply describes that the sentence involves pigeons.<\/span><\/p>\n So, building onto this,\u00a0<\/span>qualitative data coding is the process of creating and assigning codes to categorise data extracts.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>You’ll then use these codes later down the road to derive themes and patterns for your qualitative analysis (for example, thematic analysis<\/a>). Coding and analysis can take place simultaneously, but it’s important to note that coding does not necessarily involve identifying themes (depending on which textbook you’re reading, of course). Instead, it generally refers to the process of\u00a0<\/span>labelling and grouping similar types of data<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0to make generating themes and analysing the data more manageable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Makes sense? Great. But why should you bother with coding at all? Why not just look for themes from the outset? Well, coding is a way of making sure your\u00a0<\/span>data is valid<\/span><\/strong>. In other words, it helps ensure that your\u00a0<\/span>analysis is undertaken systematically<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0and that other researchers can review it (in the world of research, we call this transparency). In other words, good coding is the foundation of high-quality analysis.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/gradcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/qualitative-coding-definition.png” alt=”Definition of qualitative coding” title_text=”qualitative-coding-definition” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text module_id=”2″ _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” header_3_font_size_tablet=”” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Now that we\u2019ve got a plain-language definition of coding on the table, the next step is to understand what overarching types of coding exist – in other words, coding approaches<\/a>. Let\u2019s start with the two main approaches, inductive<\/strong> and deductive<\/strong>.<\/p>\n With deductive<\/strong> coding, you, as the researcher, begin with a set of\u00a0pre-established codes<\/strong>\u00a0and apply them to your data set (for example, a set of interview transcripts). Inductive<\/strong> coding on the other hand, works in reverse, as you create the set of codes based on the data itself<\/strong> – in other words, the\u00a0codes emerge from the data. Let’s take a closer look at both.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/ECjUqWUZWxA” _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” box_shadow_style=”preset3″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” header_3_font_size_tablet=”” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n With deductive coding, we make use of pre-established codes, which are developed before you interact with the present data. This usually involves drawing up a set of\u00a0<\/span>codes based on a research question<\/a> or previous research<\/span><\/strong>. You could also use a code set from the codebook of a previous study.<\/span><\/p>\n For example, if you were studying the eating habits of college students, you might have a research question along the lines of\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat foods do college students eat the most?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n As a result of this research question, you might develop a code set that includes codes such as \u201csushi\u201d, \u201cpizza\u201d, and \u201cburgers\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Deductive coding allows you to approach your analysis with a very tightly focused lens and quickly identify relevant data<\/strong>. Of course, the downside is that you could miss out on some very valuable insights as a result of this tight, predetermined focus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/gradcoach.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/deductive-coding.png” alt=”Deductive coding of data” title_text=”deductive-coding” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.26.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_font=”Montserrat|700|||||||” header_3_font_size_tablet=”” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n But what about inductive coding? As we touched on earlier, this type of coding involves jumping right into the data and then developing the codes\u00a0<\/span>based on what you find<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0within the data.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTL;DR – What is qualitative coding?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
Overview: Qualitative Data Coding<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\ud83e\udde9 The different types of coding that exist<\/span><\/a>
\ud83d\udee0\ufe0f How to code qualitative data (the process)<\/span><\/a>
\u27a1\ufe0f Moving from coding to qualitative analysis<\/span><\/a>
\ud83d\udca1 Tips and tricks for quality data coding<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nWhat is qualitative data coding?<\/h3>\n
What are the different types of coding?<\/h3>\n
Deductive coding 101<\/h3>\n
Inductive coding 101<\/h3>\n