Indexing/ Coding

The next stage of framework analysis is described using the term ‘indexing’ (Spencer, Ritchie and O’Conor, 2003). I felt that this was an unnecessary additional term in the glossary of qualitative analysis and that the term ‘coding’ could have been used. In qualitative data analysis the term ‘coding’ is used to refer to the assigning of ‘a word or short phrase that symbolically assigns a summative, salient, essence-capturing and/or evocative attribute’ to a portion of data (Saldaña, 2009). This is essentially the same process described by Spencer, Ritchie and Spencer (1999) who describe indexing as a ‘mechanism for labelling data in manageable bites for subsequent retrieval and exploration’ (pg 180). Interestingly in the index for their guide for qualitative research practice, ‘coding’ is listed but not the term ‘indexing’. I therefore used both terms; ‘coding’ when this is the term used by the author of a source that I refer to and ‘indexing’ when referring to guidance from Spencer, Ritchie and O’Connor (1999).

Using a common index for the different groups being studied is recommended by Ritchie and Spencer (1994), who suggest that this assists with the identification of both common and divergent themes. Ritchie and Spencer (1994) suggest that the themes can be used for indexing or a more detailed index of categories. As the initial index is applied to the first transcripts, the categories are ‘refined and become more responsive to emergent and analytical themes’ (pg 180). This process is the researcher ‘making judgements about meaning, about the relevance and importance of issues and implicit connections between ideas’ (Ritchie and Spencer 1994 pg 180). Annotating the textual data during this stage of analysis makes the process visible and accessible to others. I indexed the data in two phases. First, the ‘individual’ data that had been constructed in one to one interviews with residents. Second, the ‘communal’ data that had been

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constructed in residents’ focus groups, staff focus groups and the evaluation interviews with residents and staff.

Indexing of individual data

These data were constructed during the life story and structured interviews with residents.

 Indexing of life story data

I commenced the indexing of the data by starting with the life story interviews. I was influenced by Saldaña’s (2009) approach of using ‘dramaturgical coding’ (2009) which applies ‘the terms and conventions of character, play script and production onto qualitative data’ (pg 102). As there were so many participants and activities involved in the care home settings, dramaturgical coding proved to be a useful approach. Saldaña (2009) recommends dramaturgical coding for the exploration of ‘intrapersonal and interpersonal participant experiences and actions in case studies...public performances such as organisational rituals... relatively private performances...[and] self-standing, inclusive vignettes’ (pg 103).

Through this process of analysing the life story interviews I indexed using the categories such as ‘approach to life’, ‘employment’, ‘spouse’, ‘relationship with others’, ‘children’, ‘decision to move into the care home’, ‘values’, ‘’hopes for the future’, ‘environment’, ‘travel’, ‘relationships with other residents’, ‘mobility’, ‘health’, ‘activities’ and ‘relationships with staff’. These categories related to the thematic framework that had been constructed earlier in the process of data analysis.

Themes Physical setting Identity Relationships with others Activities Categories Decision to move into care home

Approach to life Spouse Travel

Environment Employment Children Hopes for the future

Mobility Values Relationships with staff

155 Hopes for the future

Relationships with other residents

Mobility Mobility

Table 26: Indexing categories

Different sections of data contained more than one category which required decisions being made on the section of data ‘as it stands and in the context of the interview as a whole’ (Ritchie and Spencer, pg182). For example, if a resident had an electric wheelchair that could be used inside and outside then this related to which ‘physical settings’ they could choose to spend their time in. Being able to move around independently was a valued aspect of some residents’ ‘identity’ and impacted on how they were able to maintain ‘relationships’ and engage in ‘activities’. This illustrates how ‘multiple indexing’ highlights patterns of association within the data, which are analysed further in the subsequent stages of framework analysis (Ritchie, Spencer and O’Connor, 2003).

After indexing the life story interviews I prepared short summary vignettes for each resident’s life story that identified key features of their accounts (Appendix 10), ensuring that I maintained a sense of the story of each resident’s experience.

 Indexing of structured interview data

The transcripts from the structured interviews were then analysed. In Framework analysis the index used evolves throughout the process. I was mindful of the different focus of the structured interview, in that the focus was of the residents’ current experience of care home life rather than their experience prior to moving into the care home. I was also mindful of the appreciative inquiry focus on lived values (Cooperrider and Whitney, 2003). As a result I was influenced by Saldaña’s (2009) approach of ‘values coding’. This is based on coding for participant’s values, attitudes and beliefs. Saldaña (2009) defines a value as:

The importance we attribute to oneself, another person, thing or idea. An attitude is the way we think and feel about oneself, another person, thing or idea... A belief is part of a system (after values coding analysis) that includes our values and attitudes plus our personal knowledge, experiences, opinions, prejudices,

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morals and other interpretive perceptions of the social world (pg 89-90).

This approach to data analysis was compatible with the social constructionist approach to the study. Saldaña (2009) recommends values coding for studies that explore intrapersonal and interpersonal participant experiences and actions in case studies. I had recorded reflections on my observations of participants’ actions and interactions during the data collection stages of the study. I feel that these observations and reflections helped me understand the participants’ data and enabled me to index the data. I indexed these data using themes of ‘engaging in activities’, ‘valuing humanity’, ’environment’, ‘component of caring’, ‘attitude’, ‘connection with others’. These concepts still related deductively to the themes used in the analysis of the life story interviews. However the language used reflected values rather than just descriptive terminology.

Index version 1 Index version 2

Physical setting Environment

Identity Valuing humanity

Relationships with others Connection with others Activities Engaging in activities

Component of care

Table 27: Evolving themes

Data were indexed as follows:

 ‘Environment’ was the index for data related to attributes of the physical setting of the care home that were valued

 ‘Valuing humanity’ related to valued interactions that supported the human rights of residents.

 ‘Connection with others’ used to index data about the value of interpersonal interactions and relationships.

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 ‘Engaging in activities’ where social or physical activities undertaken within or outside the care home were described as being valued

 ‘Component of caring’ reflected aspects of the valued interactions and support from care home staff.

As Framework Analysis supports a moving up and down the analytic hierarchy, I was able to return to the life story interviews and re-index them using the refined themes developed during the values indexing of the structured interviews. The themes developed during this stage of data analysis were constructed using positive language in accordance with the principles of appreciative inquiry.

Indexing of communal data

I used the term ‘communal’ data for data that had been constructed with a focus on communal life in the care home i.e. that had been constructed during:

 Focus groups with staff

 Focus group with residents

 Staff-to-staff structured interviews

The index used for analysis continued to evolve during this stage of analysis (Table 27).

Index version 2 Index version 3

Environment Physical setting Valuing humanity Valuing Identity Connection with others Dynamics of relationship Engaging in activities Focus of activities: restorative

versus maintenance Component of caring Component of caring

Table 28: Evolution of themes

The refinement of the analytical themes is recommended to ensure that the themes ‘encapsulate and represent diversity of experience, attitude and circumstances (Ritchie and Spencer, 1994). I made the decision to revert from using the themes ‘environment’ and ‘valuing humanity’ and returned to the original themes of physical setting and

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valuing identity which more accurately reflected the voice of the participants. Connection with others evolved into dynamics of relationships within the care homes, as the interactions were about more than connection. Engagement in activity evolved into focus of activities: restoration or maintenance as the focus of the activities were identified as being important to the residents; whether they focussed on restoration of the residents’ skills and competencies or the maintenance of the skills and competencies at the level which resulted from their physical disability. Component of caring remained unchanged.

The next stage of data analysis was ‘charting’. This represents movement up the analytic hierarchy into the development of descriptive accounts (Spencer, Ritchie and O’Connor, 2003).

Stage 4: Charting

In the ‘charting’ phase the data are rearranged according to the appropriate part of the thematic framework (Fig 6) with the data clearly identified.

Figure 7: Conceptual framework version (2b)

In order to manage the data during the process of analysis, attention was paid to how to display the data. Miles and Huberman (2004) and Mason (2002) recommend using visual matrices that present within cases and cross case data so that the user can draw valid conclusions. Miles and Huberman (1994) argue that cross-case analysis deepens understanding and explanation. This resonated with my approach to the data analysis. Whilst I could have analysed the data exclusively from each individual resident’s perspective, the more illuminative findings that could be generated from this study related to the incorporation of the individual perspectives within the communal context within which residents now lived.

Resident(s)