Qualitative Coding

A systematic research method for analyzing qualitative data (such as interview transcripts, survey responses, or text outputs) by assigning labels or codes to segments of data that represent meaningful patterns, themes, or concepts. In accessibility research, qualitative coding is widely used to analyze user study data, including think-aloud protocols, interview responses, and AI-generated content. The process typically involves initial open coding to identify emergent themes, followed by axial coding to establish relationships between codes. Reliability is ensured through techniques like multiple independent coders and inter-rater reliability measures such as Cohen's kappa. Qualitative coding is essential for understanding the lived experiences of people with disabilities in ways that quantitative methods alone cannot capture.