Qualitative_data_analysis

Chapter 9
Assigning categories
Having established an initial category set, we can turn to the task of categorizing the
data. For clarity I consider these as distinct activities. In practice, there is no need to
develop a complete category set in advance of categorizing the data. As the ensuing
discussion makes clear, the process of assigning categories will almost certainly lead
us to modify whatever categories are employed at the outset.
What does categorizing the data involve? At a practical level, it involves the
transfer of bits of data from one context (the original data) to another (the data
assigned to the category). The bits of data are not actually transferred: they are
copied, and the copy filed under the appropriate category (Figure 9.1)
Figure 9.1 Categorizing data—1
The mechanical aspects of this process are so simple—copying and filing —that
it is no surprise that computer software has been designed to facilitate (his task. The
conceptual aspects are more complex—but more of that later. Meantime, let us give
our computer a bit more work to do by complicating the mechanical process a little.
We may want to note where the categorized bit of data is in the text, so that we can
return to the right place in the data after a break. We may want to assign more than
one category to the data. We may want to file some reference information, such as
the case reference, or reference information (e.g. question, source) about the
particular bit of data being categorized. We may want to file the exact location of
the data in the original text. We may want to denote our bit of data in some way,
perhaps supplying a brief synopsis ourselves or using the first few words as a way of