From text to codings: intercoder reliability assessment in qualitative content analysis

Burla, Laila; Knierim, Birte; Barth, Jurgen; Liewald, Katharina; Duetz, Margreet; Abel, Thomas (2008). From text to codings: intercoder reliability assessment in qualitative content analysis. Nursing research, 57(2), pp. 113-7. Hagerstown, Md.: Wolters Kluwer Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 10.1097/01.NNR.0000313482.33917.7d

[img] Text
Burla NursRes 2008.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to registered users only
Available under License Publisher holds Copyright.

Download (96kB)

BACKGROUND: High intercoder reliability (ICR) is required in qualitative content analysis for assuring quality when more than one coder is involved in data analysis. The literature is short of standardized procedures for ICR procedures in qualitative content analysis. OBJECTIVE: To illustrate how ICR assessment can be used to improve codings in qualitative content analysis. METHODS: Key steps of the procedure are presented, drawing on data from a qualitative study on patients' perspectives on low back pain. RESULTS: First, a coding scheme was developed using a comprehensive inductive and deductive approach. Second, 10 transcripts were coded independently by two researchers, and ICR was calculated. A resulting kappa value of .67 can be regarded as satisfactory to solid. Moreover, varying agreement rates helped to identify problems in the coding scheme. Low agreement rates, for instance, indicated that respective codes were defined too broadly and would need clarification. In a third step, the results of the analysis were used to improve the coding scheme, leading to consistent and high-quality results. DISCUSSION: The quantitative approach of ICR assessment is a viable instrument for quality assurance in qualitative content analysis. Kappa values and close inspection of agreement rates help to estimate and increase quality of codings. This approach facilitates good practice in coding and enhances credibility of analysis, especially when large samples are interviewed, different coders are involved, and quantitative results are presented.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)

UniBE Contributor:

Burla, Laila, Barth, Jürgen, Liewald, Katharina, Abel, Thomas

ISSN:

0029-6562

ISBN:

18347483

Publisher:

Wolters Kluwer Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Language:

English

Submitter:

Factscience Import

Date Deposited:

04 Oct 2013 15:03

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:19

Publisher DOI:

10.1097/01.NNR.0000313482.33917.7d

PubMed ID:

18347483

Web of Science ID:

000254372000007

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.27358

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/27358 (FactScience: 106414)

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback