Section outline

  • Course Overview

    This course follows on from the popular course Do Your Interviews, but you can also take it as a stand-alone course. The course provides a clear understanding of the skills needed to manage and transcribe data collected from methods such as interviews, surveys, and focus groups.

    Learning Outcomes

    This course will help you to:

    1. Understand why it’s important to have a clear overview of transcribed data before coding
    2. Devise and apply a coding frame to code transcribed data
    3. Apply emergent coding to interpret transcribed data
    4. Use software to code and analyze data
    5. Analyze and interpret transcribed data
    6. Select the most appropriate coding method for transcribed data

    • Course Instructor: Dr. Helen Kara

      • Dr. Helen Kara

        Dr. Helen Kara (FAcSS) has been an independent researcher since 1999 and an independent scholar since 2011. She writes about research methods and research ethics, and teaches doctoral students and staff at higher education institutions worldwide. Her books include Qualitative Research for Quantitative Researchers and four books in the SAGE Little Quick Fix series. Helen also writes comics and fiction.

        View Bio for Dr. Helen Kara

      • Course Resources

        You will need to access certain files and resources throughout the course to get the most out of the activities. You can find them all here.

      • Video Transcripts

        You can access all video transcripts here.

      • Pre-Course Self Assessment

        Before you dive into this course, spend a few moments reflecting on your familiarity with the topic and your current level of skills confidence.  

        You will then re-visit the same questions in our Post-Course Self Assessment and reflect on how the course has helped you develop in confidence and grow your skills. 

        • Module One: Getting to Know Your Data

          This module will help you to: 

          1. Recognize the importance of working systematically with data    
          2. Familiarize yourself with your data   
          3. Identify your biases—and know what to do about them

        • Module Two: Using a Coding Framework

          This module will help you to: 

          1. Create a draft coding frame   
          2. Recognize the importance of testing a draft coding frame      
          3. Apply a coding frame to transcribed data 

        • Module Three: Emergent Coding

          This module will help you to: 

          1. Recognize what emergent coding is   
          2. Apply and finalize emergent coding   
          3. Identify how software can help with coding and analysis 

        • Module Four: Coding and Evaluating Data With Software

          This module will help you to: 

          1. Identify how software can help with coding and analysis    
          2. Recognize how best to use Delve and NVivo to analyze your data  


          Note: This module is optional and is not a requirement for obtaining the course certificate. 

        • Module Five: From Coding to Analysis

          This module will help you to: 

          1. Analyze coded data   
          2. Identify the difference between codes, categories, and themes   
          3. Recognize how writing can support your analytic work 

        • Glossary of Key Terms

          In addition to the glossary you’ll find woven throughout the course, you can find the full glossary collated in one place here.

        • Post-Course Self Assessment

          Now you’ve completed the course, spend a few moments reflecting on where your familiarity with the topics and your confidence skills levels are at now.  

          Has the course helped you develop new skills and grow your confidence? 

          You'll need to complete the Post-Course Self Assessment in order to download your certificate. If you didn't do the Pre-Course Self Assessment before starting the course, please go to the top of the page and reflect on your familiarity with the topic and your level of skills confidence before you started the course.  

          • Completion: Certificate

            Completing all modules (plus the pre and post-course assessments) will unlock the course certificate, which you can then download here. Your course certificate will only be made available once you have completed all these sections.

            If you have difficulty accessing your certificate, please contact the Sage support team at: onlinesupport@sagepub.co.uk. You can also check out this FAQ page which may be helpful.

            • Give Feedback About This Course

              Did you enjoy the course? Please take two minutes to share your feedback. We use learner feedback in future course updates and developments to provide an excellent learning experience. 

            • Accessibility, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

              We have high standards of accessibility on Sage Campus and as of May/June 2024 all activities within this course are keyboard and screen reader compatible. For more details on accessibility standards, please see the Sage Campus Accessibility Guide.

              For those using assistive technology, please note that within this course:

              • Tab components: JAWS and NVDA behave slightly differently. For NVDA to keep reading, it is best to exit focus mode and go back to browse mode. 
              • Matching: JAWS does not read out question label on dropdown focus. 

              Additionally, please refer to our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement which outlines our commitment to high standards of DEI on Sage Campus.