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Build and tidy your codebook

Add codes and child codes, choose colours, write definitions and memos, and merge or split codes as your analysis matures.

Time
4 minutes
Steps
5

Your Codebook is the list of every code in a project, in the sidebar of the Analysis lens. Each code has a colour, a count of its passages, and can have child codes under it. As your analysis matures you will rename, regroup, merge and split codes; the codebook keeps every coded passage in step.

  1. Adding a new code to the codebook

    Step 1Add a code

    In the Codebook, choose + New code. A code called "New code" appears, ready to rename: type its name and press Enter. (You can also create a code straight from a selected passage, see Code your papers by hand.)

  2. The code menu with Add child code

    Step 2Add a child code

    Open a code's actions menu (⋯ beside it) and choose Add child code to make a more specific code under it, such as "Written feedback" under "Feedback". Click its name box, type the name and press Enter. The same menu has Rename, Colour, Move up, Move down, Put under the code above and Move out a level. You can also drag codes to reorder or nest them.

  3. The code definition with When to use, When not to use and Example

    Step 3Write its definition

    Choose Edit definition… in the code's menu. Fill in what you can:

    • Description: what the code is about.
    • When to use: what a passage must show to get this code.
    • When not to use: close cases that belong to another code.
    • Example: a typical passage or phrase.

    Changes save as you type; choose Done when you finish. Clear definitions keep your coding consistent, and they guide AI coding if you use it.

  4. Writing a memo on a code

    Step 4Write a memo

    In the same dialog, Memo is for your analytic notes on the code: why you made it, doubts, links to other codes. Only you see them, and they are never sent to the AI. See Memos and notes are never sent to AI.

  5. The Merge dialog, explaining what happens before you choose Merge

    Step 5Merge or split codes

    When two codes turn out to be the same idea, choose Merge into… on one and pick the code to merge into. The dialog tells you how many passages move. A passage coded with both is kept once, and child codes move under the code you keep. Choose Merge.

    When a code has grown too broad, choose Split…. Tick the passages that belong to a new code, give it a New code name, and choose Split off. The rest keep the original code.

    Merging and splitting need a connection.

    Tip: to delete a code, choose Delete code…. You decide whether its coded passages go too; if you keep them, they show Code removed.

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