Open coding
analytic process by which concepts (codes) to the observed data and phenomenon are attached during qualitative data analysis
Based in grounded theory, open coding is the analytic process through which concepts (codes) are attached to observed data and phenomena during qualitative data analysis. It is one of the techniques described by Strauss (1987) and Strauss and Corbin (1990) for working with text. Open coding attempts to codify, name or classify the observed phenomenon and is achieved by segmenting data into meaningful expressions and describing that data with a single word or short sequence of words. Relevant annotations and concepts are then attached to these expressions.
Details
Applied in varying degrees of detail, open coding can be linked to a line, sentence, paragraph or complete text (e.g., protocol, scenario). Alternatives are selected according to the research question, relevant data, personal style of the analyst and the stage of research. However, coding should always follow its aim to break down and understand a text and develop a scheme of categories over the course of time.
The result of open coding should be a list of characteristic codes and categories attached to the text and supported by code notes to explain the content. These notes could take the form of interesting observations and thoughts that are relevant to the development of the theory.
Although the specific codes used by an analyst are exclusive to the research material and the analyst's style, researchers generally probe a text with targeted questions to:
Identify the underlying issue and phenomenon (What?)
Identify the persons and organizations involved and the roles they play (Who?)
Identify the phenomenon's attributes (What kind?)
Determine the time, course and location (When?
The public source identifies “Open coding” as analytic process by which concepts (codes) to the observed data and phenomenon are attached during qualitative data analysis. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around coding, analytic and process.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Open coding”, the useful work is to connect “analytic process by which concepts (codes) to the observed data and phenomenon are attached during qualitative data analysis” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
Named sources, stable identifiers and responsible institutions provide the strongest route from overview to verifiable evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jun 14, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q28003225. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1987 and 1990.
The absence of detail may reflect summary conventions rather than a lack of surviving documentation. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
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Three-step research path
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Questions for further research
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This entry incorporates text from “Open coding” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.