Methods of data collection

Data gathering techniques are important since they define how rigorous an investigation will be. When data is gathered, especially in the sciences, it can be evaluated to produce an in-depth report (Gibbs, 2013). While video recording is employed for this assignment, where one will be needed to classify, categorize, and infer the theme behind displayed data, most researchers do prefer employing surveys and interviews to obtain data, if not information.

A code is a word, sentence, or phrase that represents elements of data and encapsulates the essence of data attributes, according to Rativitch and Carl (2016). Coding is primary conducted to reduce data, understand a given phenomenon, develop construct or to develop a theory. Categorizing, on the other hand, is the grouping of data or information by some set parameters (Saldana, Leavy & Beretvas, 2011). When coding is conducted, and the coded data do portray some similarities with another code on the same group, therefore, grouping is usually done based on the characteristics that data exhibit. It is from the grouping that one can be able to analyses and apprehend for the theme being communicated (Rativitch and Carl, 2016).

In my scholar video of change, it is clear that the video illustrated the importance of green space. The major character; Christine Tolbert is an international school teacher who struggles to make a social change towards the environment with the empowerment that she receives from Jacksonville University (McFeetors, 2017). Therefore, she elaborates how her place of work (Hong Kong) is different from the other parts of the world since most buildings have been over the land, and there is no more space left for green space (Schutz, 1958). Christine further emphasizes how the form of living has changed the livelihood of the occupants; she says that most occupants have ended up living indoors, which has increased the occupants’ vulnerability to disease if not disorders as a result of poor ventilation and poor living standards (Rubin and Rubin, 2012).

When I was coding the transcription for the video, most of the codes conceded with my research question; ‘how does the Jacksonville State University inspire graduates to create social change and empower other members of the society? The most important code that I highlighted was how Christine interacted with her environment especially, in addressing problems related to the environment (Guetzkow, 1950). For instance, she urges herself that she is an international student who knows what is expected of her; she says ‘I am an international school teacher in Hong Kong.’ Another code that plays a Significant role is the social change that Christine undergoes. The ideology in code can be evident she says ‘…and use what I learned in my courses to impact social change in my local community.’ Upon analyzing these codes, one can develop categories that will match the contest on the character (Holstein and Gubrium, 2012).

Figure 1 (Source: Qualitative Codes and Coding,“ n.d)

As presented in figure 1, it is clear that data coding is different from categories, and themes but constitutes in building a theory. According to Saldana (2016), codes and categories may seem different from each other but can convey information that is vital for developing the theme, thus, the theory (Saldana, 2016). From this point of view, it is clear that codes are the simplest unit of information that represents the actual things at the ground, while categories are the generalized pieces of codes that bear relations. With proper categorization, one can easily account for the themes conveyed in a video just like the in my video on Scholar of Change (Rubin and Rubin, 2012).

References

Gibbs, G. (2013). Analyzing Qualitative Data. Sage Publications.

Guetzkow, H. (1950). Unitizing and Categorizing Problems in Coding Qualitative Data. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 6(1), 47-58.

Holstein, J., & Gubrium, J. (2012). Varieties of Narrative Analysis. Sage.

McFeetors, P. J. (2017). From Data Through Coding Toward Categorizing: Negotiating Data Analysis in Constructivist Grounded Theory.

Qualitative Codes and Coding. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/hfordsa/qualitative-codes-and-coding?next_slideshow=1

Rativitch S. M., and Carl, N. M. (2016). Qualitative research: Bridging the conceptual, theoretical, and methodological. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication.

Rubin, H. J., and Rubin, I. S. (2012). Qualitative interviewing: The art of hearing data (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Saldana, J. (2016). The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.

Saldana, J., Leavy, P., & Beretvas, N. (2011). Fundamentals of Qualitative Research. Oxford UP, USA.

Schutz, W. C. (1958). On Categorizing Qualitative Data in Content Analysis. Public Opinion Quarterly, 22(4), 503.