#coding-scheme

Systematically analyze textual content using objective coding procedures. Protocol development: 1. Define unit of analysis (word, sentence, paragraph, document). 2. Develop coding scheme a priori from theory or emergent from data. 3. Create operational definitions for each category with examples. 4. Training phase: multiple coders practice on pilot sample. 5. Reliability assessment: calculate inter-coder reliability (Krippendorff's α > 0.67 for tentative conclusions, > 0.80 for definitive). 6. Main coding phase: independent coding by trained coders. Computer-assisted analysis: Use MAXQDA, Atlas.ti, or Python NLTK for large datasets. Quantitative content analysis: frequency counts, chi-square tests for category associations. Qualitative content analysis: interpret meaning and context of categories. Validity: face validity (categories represent concepts), construct validity (correlations with external measures).