Dear Karen
In answer to your second question, I think it is better to code by line
unless the answers to questions are very structured and/or very short. If
you have paragraphs of more than a page then it will be cumbesome to code
them if you have even just two or three different codes within that
paragraph. You can't break the paragraph up, whereas if you have a line as
the text unit you can code as much or as little as you want. You don't have
to code each line separately just because the line is the text unit. You
can highlight the whole paragraph and just give it one code anyway. Lines
give you more flexibility.
Sharon
> ----------
> From: Karen E. Vigmostad[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: 18 June 1999 15:32
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Viewing codes, what size text block
>
> I am about to dive into learning and experimenting with NUD*IST. I am a
> doctoral student and my upcoming research will involve about 25
> semi-structured one to one-and-a-half hour interviews. I have a few
> questions:
>
> 1. A recent comment on this list from Ann Lewins made me nervous:
>
> <I don't like the fact that I can never see how my file is coded as a
> whole
> - only by seeing requested codes (up to 26) displayed in margin>
>
> Does this mean that I cannot print out hard copies of the transcripts once
> I code them? I would like to be able to see all my coded transcripts for
> some visual work. Please say this is possible!
>
> 2. What are the pros and cons of coding line versus paragraph? I was
> going to do paragraphs but a few colleagues feel that lines are better. I
> suspect my paragraphs will be very long, perhaps a page or more. I like
> the idea of being able to spread to get context, but don't want to be
> overwhelmed with big blocks. BUT...the thought of coding by line feels
> overwhelming and makes me nervous!
>
> BTW, I willing invested in NUD*IST. I use the word invest purposefully.
> To me, NUD*IST is part of a whole set of researcher tools that doctoral
> students need to invest in in order to thrive. These tangible and
> intangible tools include books, course work, reflection, notetaking,
> discussions, conferences, phone calls, computer, journals, and so on. I
> know I will be doing qualitative research the rest of my life and that I
> need to be as well-informed and experienced as possible. I cut back in
> other areas so that I can "afford" to invest in things of lasting value.
> This investment will be worth it even if I decide never to use NUD*IST or
> any qualitative software again for I will have gained the needed
> experience--that only comes from diving in!--to know if it suits me and my
> research or not. Just my two cents...
>
>
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> karen e. vigmostad ~ [log in to unmask]
> doctoral candidate ~ resource development
> director ~ great lakes islands institute
> michigan state university ~ 517/339-2202
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
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