Decontextualisation

The researchers must familiarize themselves with the data, and have to read through the transcribed text to obtain the sense of the whole, i.e. to find out what it is about, before it can be broken down into smaller meaning units. A meaning unit is the smallest unit that contains some of the insights the researcher needs, and it is the constellation of sentences or paragraphs containing aspects related to each other, and answering the question set out in the aim (Catanzaro, 1988). Each identified meaning unit is labeled with a code, which should be understood in relation to the context. This procedure is known as the ‘open coding process’ in the literature (Berg, 2001). During the analysis, codes facilitate the identification of concepts around which the data can be assembled into blocks and patterns (Catanzaro, 1988). The researcher should use a coding list, including the explanations of the codes, to minimize the cognitive change during the process of analysis in order to secure reliability (Catanzaro, 1988). Codes can be generated inductively or deductively, depending on the study design. If the study has a deductive reasoning design, the researcher has to create the coding list before starting the analysis. Otherwise, the list can be created in the course of the process (Catanzaro, 1988). Codes created inductively may change as the study progresses, as more data become available. The interpretations of the meaning units that seemed clear at the beginning may become obscured during the process. Therefore, the coding process should be performed repeatedly, starting on different pages of the text each time to increase the stability and reliability (Downe-Wambolt, 1992). However, it is much easier to obtain high reliability with code lists generated deductively rather than inductively (Catanzaro, 1988). There are also computer programmes which can be of help. Though their use is not imperative, they may facilitate the process. Although these programmes do not analyse the data, they do speed up the process by locating codes, and grouping data together in categories. Nevertheless, it is up to the researcher to decide what constitutes the themes, and what conclusions can be drawn from the results.