Cycle coding, in the context discussed, refers to a coding process where you create summative and clarifying statements about information, typically on a line-by-line or paragraph-by-paragraph basis. This can be done manually or with software.
Let's break down the components:
- Summative Statements: These are brief summaries that capture the essence of a section of text.
- Clarifying Statements: These statements explain the meaning or significance of the text.
- Line-by-line/Paragraph-by-paragraph: This indicates the granularity at which the coding is performed. Each line or paragraph is analyzed and coded separately.
Here's a table to illustrate the process:
| Text Segment | Summative Statement | Clarifying Statement |
|---|---|---|
| "The data showed a strong correlation..." | "Correlation identified" | "Highlights the relationship between variables in the data." |
| "Participants expressed feeling of dread" | "Negative emotions expressed" | "Indicates the psychological impact on participants." |
The following list will give a more comprehensive idea:
- Purpose: To condense and interpret raw data.
- Application: Qualitative research, software development (e.g., documenting code).
- Tools: Can be performed manually or using software designed for coding.
- Outcome: A set of coded segments that can be further analyzed to identify themes, patterns, and insights.
Cycle coding helps organize and make sense of large amounts of information by reducing it to manageable and meaningful codes.
