Open Coding

Open coding refers to the initial phase of the coding process in the grounded theory approach to qualitative research (generating theory from data) espoused by Anslem Strauss and Juliet Corbin. They call this initial stage of data analysis open coding because they view the process as the “opening up” of the text in order to uncover ideas and meanings it holds.

The process of open coding begins with the collection of raw data (e.g., interviews, fieldnotes, art, reports, diaries). The intent of open coding is to break down the data into segments in order to interpret them. Detailed word-by-word and line-by-line ...