All Collections
Free Qualitative Data Analysis Course
Course 1.8 Descriptive, In Vivo and Process Coding
Course 1.8 Descriptive, In Vivo and Process Coding
LaiYee Ho avatar
Written by LaiYee Ho
Updated over a week ago

You can use specific coding methods to code your data such as descriptive, in vivo and process coding. There are many other coding methods besides what we show in this video.


You should be using multiple coding methods on the same data set. Think about them like tools in a toolbox. Don't just learn 1 and use it for every piece of data. Learn multiple ways to code so you can use different methods across different transcripts.

You can learn about other coding methods in the Essential Guide to Coding Qualitative Data.

Descriptive Coding

With Descriptive coding, you summarize the content of the text into a description. The code name should be a word or a noun that encapsulates the contents of the data.

In Vivo Coding

Using the participant’s own words

With In Vivo coding, you code an excerpt based on a participant’s own words, and not your own interpretation as a researcher. You’re trying to utilize the participant’s own spoken language and stay as close to their intent and meaning as possible. In Vivo coding is often used as a first step to summarize passages into single words or phrases extracted from the interview itself.

Process Coding

Capturing an action

With Process coding, you use codes to communicate an action in the data. Codes will typically be gerunds that end with “ing”.

Did this answer your question?