axial coding

Axial coding is a process used in qualitative research to organize and connect various data points gathered during interviews or observations. It involves identifying key themes or concepts and exploring how they relate to each other. Think of it as creating a map that links related ideas, helping researchers understand the underlying structure of the data. This step comes after initial coding, where basic ideas are identified, and before selective coding, where core themes are refined. Overall, axial coding helps clarify relationships among concepts, bringing coherence and depth to qualitative analysis.