All frameworks and cheat sheets

Reference table

Common first cycle coding methods

Table of common first cycle coding methods grouped by family, with what each code captures and when to use it.
Pick two or three that fit your question, not all of them Source: Johnny Saldaña, The Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers
Download PNGRead the full guide

A reference table of nine first cycle coding methods from Johnny Saldaña's coding manual: descriptive, in vivo, process, initial, structural, emotion, values, versus and evaluation coding. For each method it shows its family, what a code captures and the kind of study it suits. Use it to choose a small set of methods before you start coding interview transcripts. Koji handles a first coding pass on every interview answer, with a verbatim quote behind each code.

Where this appears

What's in this reference table

MethodFamilyWhat the code capturesUse it for
DescriptiveElementalThe topic, as a short nounOverviews and large datasets
In vivoElementalThe participant's own wordsVoice and language
ProcessElementalActions, as -ing wordsWorkflows and change
Initial (open)ElementalQuick provisional codes, line by lineEarly grounded theory
StructuralElementalThe question or topic a passage answersInterviews that follow a guide
EmotionAffectiveFeelings described or shownExperience and churn research
ValuesAffectiveValues, attitudes and beliefsMotivation and trust
VersusAffectiveConflicts and tensionsCompeting priorities
EvaluationAffectiveJudgments of merit or worthProduct and programme evaluation

Use this image

Free to use in your docs, decks and posts under CC BY 4.0, as long as you credit Koji with a link to this page. To embed it, paste this into your page:

html
<a href="https://www.koji.so/visuals/saldana-first-cycle-coding-methods-table"><img src="https://www.koji.so/visuals/saldana-first-cycle-coding-methods-table/saldana-first-cycle-coding-methods-table.png" alt="Table of common first cycle coding methods grouped by family, with what each code captures and when to use it." width="1200" height="1011" /></a>
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.koji.so/visuals/saldana-first-cycle-coding-methods-table">Common first cycle coding methods</a>, Koji</p>

Related

Framework of six second cycle coding methods: pattern, focused, axial, theoretical, elaborative and longitudinal coding.

Six second cycle coding methods

Table ranking customer responses from compliment to commitment of time, reputation and money, with how much each signal counts as validation of an idea.

Compliments vs commitments in customer interviews

Table comparing process mining, workshops and manual interviews, surveys and Koji on off-system work, follow-up, consistency, reach and analysis effort.

Ways to gather workflow triage evidence