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Symposium:
A.A
Commentary
Different
Sociological Methodology
Volume 42, 82-84
) American Sociological Association 2012
DOI: 10.1177/0081 175012460853
to
Approaches
Coding
http://sm.sagepub.com
(DSAGE
Graham
R. Gibbs1
I will
here
focus
volume,
on
the
core
the
2012:4376)namely,
three
using
nodes
and
discussed
example
counts
For
an attribute.1
by White,
from
arising
it demonstrates
me,
and
Judd,
a matrix
Poliandri
(this
in NVivo
search
of the differences
some
in logic between a typical quantitative approach and a typical qualitative one, which
must
be taken
into
account
in mixed
methods
research.
The initial output from NVivo is shown in Table 3 of their paper. The rows repre
sent
done
coding
to
Both."
"Supports
three
subnodes,
TMF,"
"Supports
the lines,
between
Reading
it looks
started
by iden
to have
the decision
concerning
a first child"
(p.
and
58)
and
SDT,"
"Supports
as if the authors
then
consid
within
that text
identified some subtypes of answer. I think the authors treated this as if it were the
tegories
be
may
But
there
would
be
and
each
as
either
variable
are two
There
about
"women's
so
that
allow
might
for each
possible
interviews
considerations
case
What
answers,
has
just
Such
subca
one,
unique
and
answers
in that case
or a variable
answer
possible
for each
3 is a mix
we
have
in Table
so there
need
to be three
it is entirely
concerning
a questionnaire.
each
multiple
of answers.
combination
possible
two.
researchers
one
on
question
exclusive
mutually
studies
in unstructured
However,
sage
treated
in some
value.
answer
to an open-ended
of answers
categorization
possible
the
text
to find
decision
to have
nodes.
in the pas
a first child"
which cannot be coded with any of the three subnodes and/or to find text elsewhere
in the interview that can be coded at one or more of the subnodes. Indeed, as becomes
clear
later
in the paper,
such
considerations
were
not expressed
in one
only
place
but
occurred at different points in the interview. So, in addition to the possibility that
some
both
place
text
is coded
"Supports
both
is coded
theories
as
as
Both."
Both"
"Supports
in the same
"Supports
In such
there
passage,
TMF"
cases
and
where
the respondent
might
also
text
this respondent
be
in another
would
cases
place
also
expresses
where
be
as
support
some
text
"Supports
someone
who
theories.
'University of Huddersfield
Author:
Corresponding
Graham R. Gibbs, University of Huddersfield
Email: g.r.gibbs@hud.ac.uk
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for
in one
SDT"
supports
or
Gibbs
83
leagues
so further
numbers,
this by exporting
data
work
is needed
to see
program.
In some
to a statistical
this.
White
and
this
cases
col
be
may
the easiest approach, but, in fact, the work can be done in NVivo using what Richards
(1999) calls, "coding on." This involves doing a query in NVivo and then assigning
the resulting retrieved text to a new node (or an existing one if appropriate). By doing
queries based on Boolean combinations of nodes (AND and NOT) and the non
Boolean operator CO-OCCURENCE,
it is possible to create new codes that when
used
in a matrix
search
and
the number
showing
of sources
coded
will
the
produce
figures in Table 5.
Table 5 is initially surprising. It is clear that by including respondents who men
tion
both
considerations
in the interview
anywhere
as
Both"
"Supports
the numbers
in these categories have gone up from 11 and 19 to 16 and 33 for parity 1 and 0
But
respectively.
a mystery.
I can
why
the numbers
only
assume
in the other
that in Table
categories
5 the number
have
down
gone
of Parity
0 who
is more
of
"Supports
TMT"
has gone down from 42 to 21 because all those who also had text coded as
"Supports SDT" or "Supports Both" somewhere else in their interview have been
excluded.
The table below shows the differentallocations for Tables 3 and 5, where X indi
cates
the case
(source
document)
has
some
text that
is coded
with
this
node
at some
place.
Sup. TMF
Sup. SDT
Sup.
Both
Table
X
X
Table
Sup. TMF
Sup. SDT
X
X
Sup. TMF
Sup. SDT
Sup. Both
Sup. Both
Sup. Both
Sup. Both
Sup. Both
Sup. Both
Missing
Supports
neither
What is missing from this table and from the authors' account is any mention of
respondents' considerations concerning the decision to have a first child that could
not be coded as "Supports TMF" or "Supports SDT." This highlights a second dif
ference in the logics of qualitative and quantitative approaches, which is the ability
to be
exploratory,
something
that
is rather
underplayed
in the authors'
discussion
of
of grounded
new
ideas,
theory,
codes,
is that
or concepts
in the
process
(e.g.,
Glaser
of coding
and
Strauss
the
researcher
1967).
In the
can
case
dis
of
this study it might be women's discussion that fits in neither with TMT nor SDT.
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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
84
SociologicalMethodology 42
This is a case of not supporting eitherwhat the authors have labeled as missing
but it is in fact a positive giving of reasons.
I certainly agree with the conclusion reached by White and colleagues that there
is scope for a lot more use of QDAS functions to undertake mixed-methods research.
The conversion of qualitative coding into quantitative variables is clearly one of
but it needs
them,
to be
done
with
a great
deal
of care
to take
into
account
the differ
it looks,
Actually
by the column
judging
in Table
heading
3, as if the authors
have
used
is done comprehensively.
References
B.
Glaser,
G.
and
L. 1999.
Richards,
White,
M.,
Social
A.
L.
Research.
Qualitative
M.
D.
Using
NVivo
Judd, and
Scientists
Multimethod
Strauss.
Learn
1967.
IL:
Chicago,
The Discovery
in Qualitative
S. Poliandri.
Research.
London:
"Illumination
2012,
by Employing
Qualitative
Sociological
Methodology
Designs?"
of Grounded
Theory:
Strategies
for
Aldine.
Data
Sage.
with a Dim
Analysis
Bulb?
What
Do
in the Service
Software
of
42:4376.
Bio
Graham
R. Gibbs
in England.
the use
books
related
His
Fellow
in Social
interests
Research
include
Methods
at the University
in qualitative
of Huddersfield
data analysis
and
of technology
on qualitative
in teaching
and learning in higher education.
He is the author of two
data analysis
and has led and participated
in several
funded projects
to the use of technology
in the social sciences
and their teaching. He is currently work
ing on the EU
have
is a Reader
research
a parent
funded
COPING
in prison.
He
was
project,
made
which
a UK
is examining
Higher
Education
the experience
Academy
of children
National
in 2006.
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All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
who
Teaching