Coding in the Quotation Network: Bridging the Gap Between Fragmentation and Integration Ricardo B. Contreras Apri 11, 2016 Introduction In this article I will look at a procedure not many ATLAS.ti users know: coding in the network view. That is, when the linkage between the codes and the quotations is done inside of a network view rather than on the document margin. There might be occasions when coding in this way may be preferable over the traditional way of coding on the margin area. For example, when coding graphic quotations, I like to have the quotation in a network view and simply drag and drop the codes from the list into it. When coding in a network, you focus your attention on the quotation itself and on the different linkages that you have created in relation to that quotation. Coding in this way may provide you a systemic view of the quotation in relation to other elements, which allows you to see linkages beyond the immediate space surrounding the quotation. This can be extremely useful, especially if you agree with me that an ultimate goal of any process of qualitative analysis is to build a holistic representation of the research subject. However, by coding in the network you may miss the benefit of seeing the text/image/audio or video surrounding the quotation, a clear benefit of coding on the document margin. But this can be compensated by placing the network window side-by-side with the actual document. In this way, you would still be able to see the quotation context while focusing your attention on the linkages between elements in the network. See figure 1 below and watch this video tutorial showing how to place the document and the network side-by-side. Figure 1. Placing network side-by-side document in ATLAS.ti Mac and ATLAS.ti 7 Windows. The procedures to code in the network view are slightly different between ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac. www.atlasti.com
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Summary sheet - Atlas.ti · Web viewI have learned that there is the tendency among new users of ATLAS.ti to overemphasize the importance of coding. Qualitative data analysis with
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Coding in the Quotation Network: Bridging the Gap Between Fragmentation and Integration
Ricardo B. Contreras
Apri 11, 2016
Introduction
In this article I will look at a procedure not many ATLAS.ti users know: coding in the network view. That is, when the linkage between the codes and
the quotations is done inside of a network view rather than on the document margin. There might be occasions when coding in this way may be prefer-
able over the traditional way of coding on the margin area. For example, when coding graphic quotations, I like to have the quotation in a network
view and simply drag and drop the codes from the list into it.
When coding in a network, you focus your attention on the quotation itself and on the different linkages that you have created in relation to that
quotation. Coding in this way may provide you a systemic view of the quotation in relation to other elements, which allows you to see linkages beyond
the immediate space surrounding the quotation. This can be extremely useful, especially if you agree with me that an ultimate goal of any process of
qualitative analysis is to build a holistic representation of the research subject.
However, by coding in the network you may miss the benefit of seeing the text/image/audio or video surrounding the quotation, a clear benefit of
coding on the document margin. But this can be compensated by placing the network window side-by-side with the actual document. In this way, you
would still be able to see the quotation context while focusing your attention on the linkages between elements in the network.
See figure 1 below and watch this video tutorial showing how to place the document and the network side-by-side.
Fig-
ure
1.
Placing network side-by-side document in ATLAS.ti Mac and ATLAS.ti 7 Windows.
The procedures to code in the network view are slightly different between ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac.
Create a network and code inside of it in ATLAS.ti Mac
Select the codes of your preference from the Navigator and drag and drop them into the network
In the network, select the codes and drag and drop the red circle onto the quotation
The quotation has been coded!
See below figure 2 and watch this video tutorial.
Figure
2.
Creat-
ing
net-
work in
AT-
LAS.ti
Mac
and
coding
inside
of it.
Create a network and code inside of it in ATLAS.ti 7 Windows
In ATLAS.ti 7 Windows, coding in a network view can be done the same way as in the Mac version of the program, although the procedures vary a little
bit.
You first have to insert a quotation into a network view. To do this, there are two options: a) you can create a new network view and insert the quota-
tion into it or b) you can open the network view of a quotation.
Option A. To create a new network view and insert the quotation into it
Networks
New Network View
Give a name to the network view
Place the network view next to the side panel (or the Quotation Manager)
Drag and drop the quotation(s) into the network view
Figure 6. Inserting codes into network and linking them to quotation in ATLAS.ti 7 Windows.
Conclusion
I have learned that there is the tendency among new users of ATLAS.ti to overemphasize the importance of coding. Qualitative data analysis with the software involves much more than coding. All of the different tools, when used in an intertwined manner, enrich the process of analysis and allow for the necessary balancing between fragmentation and integration of the data. Although I agree that we do need to fragment through coding to capture the essence of the information and to generalize beyond a specific unit of the discourse, we also need to integrate in order to move towards a holistic representation of the phenomenon under study (see this blog article).
Coding in a network helps to bridge the gap between fragmentation and integration. It provides the opportunity to code by not losing sight of the
linkages between the quotation and other elements of the project, beyond the immediate quotation surroundings. However, and importantly, the
decision as to whether or not to code in a network, when to do it, and how many linkages should be included, must respond to practical needs. Like
many procedures in ATLAS.ti, you will only code in this way if doing so helps you in analysis. You are the judge.
Note: To learn about networks in ATLAS.ti Mac, read starting on page 61 of the manual (download from here) and/or watch this video tutorial. To learn
about networks in ATLAS.ti 7 Windows, read starting on page 280 of the manual (download from here) and/or watch this video tutorial.