Coding Data Analysis Technique: Coding

Coding

Data Analysis Technique: Coding

In the field observation conducted in a skateboard park, the researcher-observer took detailed observations of all the 'observable' elements in the chosen fieldwork setting. In general, the field observation involved observing the skateboarders and skateboarding activities, which are the focal points of the observation. In addition, other observation points identified are the spectators in the skateboard park, including their characteristics and activities in relation to the setting and main activity (skateboarding).

Going through the observation notes, there emerged five (5) major themes that provide a good description of the observation conducted at the skateboard park. These themes are: (1) skateboard park environment; (2) sounds in the skateboard park; (3) activities in the skateboard park; (4) profile of skateboarders; and (5) profile of the audience/spectators. Each major theme was identified based on the recurring observations that can be sufficiently grouped under each theme. For example, the first category, "skateboard park environment," observations such as "concrete-shape and molded," "painted with psychedelic designs / graffiti," and "green spaces" illustrate the general park environment. Since this is a recurring observation in the chosen observation site -- the skateboard park -- a category is assigned to describe these observations. Once identified as a category, the next step is to identify if the observations under the category can be further broken down into sub-categories, if there are any recurring sub-themes under each observation within the category. Since the observation does not have further in-depth information about the park, no other sub-themes or sub-categories were identified and used in the coding process. (This will also hold true for the remaining categories identified in the observation assignment, that is, all categories only have observations under them, no further sub-themes/sub-categories.)

However, additional observation visits in the site could help provide more in-depth information that will yield sub-categories for the category, "Activities in the skateboard park." Under this category, observations were identified as "skateboarders taking breaks," "skateboarding," "hanging out," "smoking marijuana," and "video- or phone video- taking." Additional visits to the site will determine if there are other activities done in the skateboard park apart from those identified already after the observation visit. It could be that the observation "hanging out" can be further subdivided into other observations. However, in coding, the key to determining categories and sub-categories is rich in-depth data, which could only be collected by conducting frequent observation visits in the site.