Method of analysis

3.4.1

The interpretive paradigm

Coding is an iterative process (Weber, 1990). In case of the method of analysis of the interview, it is about the constructs brought forward by the respondents. In both cases, the meanings are of the interest for this study. This means that the researcher has an “interpretive relation” with the transcript (Smith & Osborne, 1997).

3.4.2

Method of dealing with qualitative data

The method of dealing with qualitative data in this study is coding. Since all analysed data is

(transformed into) written text, the collected documents can be analysed with help from Atlas.TI 8.0 – a software program that assists to analysis qualitative data. The goal of coding is to come to

conclusions via a method of linking, analysing, categorizing and identification of concepts. The coding is done through a procedure of cycles. The procedures followed for analysing qualitative data in this study is derived from the publication of Saldana (2009).

Coding is an interpretive act and goes in several cycles. This process is iterative. The first step of analysing is to code the transcribed interviews and documents. The codes are translated to the ideal types build in the second chapter. The first notes for the coding phase are made during the

like. Based upon the idea of Saldana (2009), the following questions are kept in mind within the coding process:

- What are my respondents try to achieve or to accomplish? - How do my respondents try to accomplish this;

- What specific means do my respondents give to their ‘smart city’ labelled project? - How do the respondents talk about their project; how do they characterize it? - Do the respondents understand what is going on in the field of smart cities? - What are the preliminary assumptions of the respondents?

- As for me, the researcher, do the respondents not respond to certain question – ergo, are certain questions avoided?

3.4.3

Analysis of coded concepts

Analysing the data is an iterative process of code weaving, which is a strategy to look for patterns in the data. The interviews transcript form the primary source of analysis; the document analysis are the secondary source of analysis. Most of the data sources are in Dutch, thus, the coding scheme is also in Dutch. The coded concepts are analysed for categorizing of coded concepts. Through categorizing, the applied codes are linked to each other. The first cycle of categorizing is in this case followed by a second cycle of categorizing. Since this study only consisted out of 31 documents, categorizing is relatively easy. The first step used to categorize is a word frequency, which is

displayed in Annex 2. Out of this word frequency, the first and second cycle of categorizing, groups of stakeholders and boundary conditions are distracted from the data. The third step of analysing is the identifying of themes and concept. This is described as “an outcome of a coding, categorizing, and

analytical reflection, not something that is, in itself, coded. And when the major categories are compared with each other and consolidated in various ways, you begin to transcend the “reality” of your data and progress towards thematic, conceptual and theoretical” (Saldana, 2009). As identifying

is an interpretive act, I interpreted throughout the documents three key themes that reflect the cohesion between the group of stakeholders, the boundary conditions they define and the meanings they give to citizenship in the smart city. Finally, I checked this outcome in the process of analysing data is being searched for comparable repetitive patterns and consistencies in in the data (Saldana, 2009).

For answering the main and sub research questions, in the process of coding three things are of special importance. In the first place, is taken into consideration that “citizenship is concerned with a

diverse set op practices and cultures that structure complex patterns of inclusion and exclusion within modern society” (Stevenson, 2005). Alongside this notion, in the process of coding is searched for

practices and cultures that are characteristics of meanings of citizenship. With this notion, the first sub question of this study can be analysed. In the second place, in the process of coding is coded

which organization the interviewee works for. Thus, via this way of coding it is possible to analyse the second sub question of this study. Thirdly, the process of coding is seen in light of the three ideal types as constructed in section 2.5. The ideal types are not directly suitable for studying the data; a ‘translation’ between these ideal types and real world situations is made. Therefore, in the table below a coding scheme is positioned.

Big Society Urban Citizenship Smart Citizenship

Focus of citizenship Buurten, gemeenschappen,

vrijwilligersorganisaties, maatschappelijke organisaties, netwerken. Bewoners, gasten, bezoekers Individuen

Role of citizens Actief participeren Norm gebaseerd, semi

gedwongen deelname

Autonome burgers die vrijwillig co-creëren en participeren.

Role of local government

Terugtrekkende overheid. Empowerment van burgers

Samen leven bevorderen. Vergroten van de gemeenschap

Creëren van een gelijk speelveld. Beschermen van fundamentele vrijheden

Role of national government

Decentraliseren van beleid n.a. Role of civil society

organizations Vrijwilligerswerk aanmoedigen, betrokkenheid in platformen actief promoten. Vrijwilligersorganisaties als middel om het samen leven te bevorderen

Onderscheid tussen privaat en publiek is verdwenen

Role of business Ontwikkelaars voor applicaties n.a. Onderscheid tussen

privaat en publiek is verdwenen

Technology Platformen in de zin

verbeteren van het leven van iedereen. Platformen voor het delen van open data

Applicaties in de zin van het bevorderen van het samen leven

Toegang tot een open internet.

Coöperatief

Presence Burgerschap als fysiek

eigenaarschap van publieke goederen

Nadruk op fysiek (buurten en gemeenschappen), ondersteund door digitaal.

Virtueel en fysiek; living labs.

Size Beperkte omvang van

gemeenschappen

Woorden gerelateerd aan sub groepen

No limitations

Political citizenship Macht naar de burger. Politiek

in de zin van stimuleren van burgerinitiatieven van bottom up

Focus op de lokale politiek.

Politiek is een

voortdurende interactie. Niveau van politieke gemeenschap wisselt per onderwerp (met

eventueel buurt/bezoeker)

Rights and freedom Actieve burgers, die

uiteindelijk kan terug vallen op de overheid

Burger moreel verplicht Burger beschikt over

Boundary conditions Both legal participation as well

as political participation

Gelijke deelname aan participatie

Transparantie, open communicatie, goed geïnformeerde burgers. Toegang tot internet Table 3.3 Coding scheme