I want to learn more about qualitative data analysis and coding. Yesterday, I found the Delve YouTube Channel, and today I continued watching videos. The short but dense “What is Open, Axial, and Selective Coding?” video introduced terms I wasn’t aware of! Open coding, axial coding, and selective coding are steps that are interconnected in the grounded theory methodology. The video emphasized that you need transcripts to code as part of qualitative data analysis, and that with Grounded Theory, your goal is to derive new theories and concepts from the information-rich transcripts. Open coding is the first step that identifies codes in your transcripts. The video noted that open coding is “meant to open you up to new possibilities” and this will help me remember. Axial coding is the next step, in which codes are grouped into categories. The categories are the axes that “tied” the codes together. Selective coding connects categories into one core category that represents the central thesis. Each coding step is iterative and helps refine your theory. The video suggested further rounds of coding. The product is a new theory grounded in your qualitative data. I love these short informative videos!
