ABSTRACT
Once data are collected, it is necessary to organize them into a manageable, easily understandable, and analyzable format. In this chapter, we discuss some of the main ways of accomplishing this task. We provide an overview of the various processes involved in data coding, including transcription and the preparation of raw data for coding, the modification or creation of appropriate coding systems (depending on the type of data and the research questions), the issue of reliability measures for coding, and the implementation of coding. We also present examples of some common models and custom-made coding systems, taking both quantitative and qualitative research concerns into account. Finally, we discuss questions related to how and when to decide how much and what to code.
