Phase one interviews

Coding is the link between collecting the data and developing an emergent theory to explain the data. The initial coding was at the level of line by line, whereby I used gerunds to define actions and meaning in small sections of data. As mentioned in section 3.6.6, I began this process on NVivo for my original interviews. The first two interviewees, Rico and Amy, had both recently returned to the hostel setting, where there was a sense of valuing the clean place, the food and staff, with some mixed views about fellow residents. An example of the line by line coding of an excerpt from Rico is in table 4.4.

Initial narrative to be coded Examples of line by

line codes

I: When you were living in your own place, did you have any sort of support?

P: No, I didn’t have no discipline. I had probation but I wasn’t even turning up to my probation meetings like, I was just, sleeping—sleeping all day and didn’t really care—I was

Having no discipline Avoiding meetings when in flat Sleeping all day Lacking motivation

just, didn’t care about myself then…so… I: What’s different now? [in hostel]

P: [Pause] it’s just a cleaner house, I got the support here, I got good people around me, [pause] courses, I get my food and that and it’s just, it’s just a whole, like, place and that. A lot of people complain but, it’s what you make of it really…

Not caring about self Appreciating the nice environment of hostel Valuing support of ‘good people’, food Making the most of it Witnessing others complain

Table 4.4. Initial line by line coding of excerpt from Rico’s interview

During initial coding, I was coding to capture process, trying to see what was significant for the person. Rico, for example, was contrasting his life in the hostel to when he was in his last flat. He also contrasted himself to others in the hostel who he sees as complainers. As well as comparing within interviews, I compared across interviews to find similarities and differences. An excerpt from Sandra’s interview is in table 4.5 and although she had appreciated the hostel initially (like Rico), because it provided her with a room when she needed it, she raised other issues. She described how she did not fit but had no choice but to stay. She very strongly felt that she was expected to have problems in a ‘one cap fits all’ approach (Sandra, 1872-1873).

Initial narrative to be coded Examples of codes

P: It’s like I didn’t fit—it like they have got a system in place they have to…

I: And you didn’t feel like you fitted in?

P: No [laughing] you have to stay here, you have to have some problems to work through. That’s how it seems, that’s how its presented and not officially presented but what I

Feeling didn’t fit

Having to stay Having no choice Perceiving you are expected to have

mean is again it’s the same kind—you get this feeling that you are meant to be incapable of work, that’s the feeling I get from the places. You are meant to be [pause] it’s the same where I am at ____, as well as the ____, it seems like because that’s often was is the situation when you are there, they—they make this cap that fits everybody—that doesn’t fit everyone, basically trying to push it on everyone so they have got a set system, you are meant to stay there and have problems that need working through and some people are just relatively normal people and they don’t have all these problems that you have to work through. They just really want to get a home and they don’t really help and encourage you to get a home, really. They do eventually refer you on to the next stage which is supported accommodation but they don’t—it takes some time and it’s like they have their own pace they want to do it and I always got the impression that they were meant to be— from the kind of things that you see up on the wall it seems to me like it’s meant to be—meant to be a lot more help I think for getting a place. You see what I am saying…

problems Being judged to be incapable of work Experiencing this in both services

Perceiving one cap to fit everybody Being pushed into set system Feeling you have to stay and have to have problems Having to wait Getting referred on eventually Perceiving being controlled by hostel pace Experiencing less actual help than that advertised in hostel Table 4.5. Initial line by line coding of excerpt from Sandra’s interview

Comparing interviews identified the complexity of using the hostel – the lack of choice resulting in having to use the services but this can feel controlling. Box 4.1 is an early memo about the hostel, which, for the majority of participants, was a stage in the process of transition.

Early memo written on using the hostel – tricky balance

Listening has reinforced for me the value of safety and the feeling of being cared for in the hostel –the pleasure of a clean bedroom. The use of the word sanctuary reflects, perhaps, the intensity of the experiences that brought people to using the hostel. So much more than just a roof especially when considering the experiences people came through - things breaking down and people feeling out of control. A comment by Sandra about ‘getting sucked into a lifestyle you don’t intend’ makes me think about what role does routine play in the hostel? What do staff think about routine? How is help balanced with enabling? I know the word ‘enable’ is coming from my occupational therapy thinking but I can treat it as a sensitising concept – an

initial but tentative idea to pursue. How can you enable within an institution? How important is it for the process of transitioning away from the service?

Box 4.1. Example of an early memo about hostel – tricky balance

Within phase one, I carried out interviews with five people who were in their own tenancies. An example of initial coding is shown below in table 4.6.

Initial narrative to be coded Examples of line by

line codes

P: I think it’s a beautiful view [laughs] I really do because— because really when you have had nothing. I mean the other view is just leading down—looking down onto ______ street but they are not very good views but I mean the other side is beautiful views but now to me that is a good view and I can see the water behind this thing

P: All the little things I have [SHOWS PHOTO] which I built up

I: When you moved in first Harold did you have any of them P: No, I just bought everything. Yes, yeah because Joe—Joe and me went and got the bed because I mean what I did—I saved money, even though I was in the hostel I put money away each week. Even today Joe takes some of my money which he still saves for me when I ask him to. And I mean— yeah I mean [pause] and to have these things is just—I mean to have actually your—it’s like the computer and the telly and the things like that and it’s just, I didn’t have these things before

Asserting opinion about view Acknowledging others would see differently Appreciating because of what been through Showing off all

possessions Being able to gather things Getting help to buy Saving money despite being in hostel Getting ongoing help with money Valuing being able to have things

Comparing the present to the past

Table 4.6. Initial line by line coding of excerpt from Harold’s interview

Drawing on the most significant and/or frequently occurring initial codes progressed focused coding. This allowed for an iterative process, sifting more quickly through large amounts of data. For example, I checked a code ‘comparing past to present’, that came up in Harold’s coding, against the other interviews. It prompted the following memo, (box 4.2).

Early memo written on being in one’s own place - does past matter?

What impact does a person’s past have – does having a past identity of neighbour, or a ‘local’ make the transition easier? What if that identity does not match at all with current situation (like for Garfield)?

Is there a sense of things being more important because of past experiences? For example, hitting rock bottom?

Box 4.2. Early memo on being in one’s own place – does past matter?