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How To Analyze Interview Notes Handout
How To Analyze Interview Notes Handout
Read your interview notes and your field notes from your site visit at least twice. Here’s the
sequence of steps:
1. Open reading
The first time you read your notes, keep your mind open. What do you notice? Mark the notes
with highlighting, post-its or some such system.
Write as you read, jotting down memories, whatever you notice and your own reactions. This
“memo” about each interview also becomes a document to code.
3. Coding
Do a second read-through of all interview notes and field notes, and a first reading of your
memos from Step 1. Look for each item in the codebook and mark/number the text when you
find it. Color-coding your post-its, highlighter pens or electronic highlighting will help you keep
track of what shows up where. For each code, make a list of where you found examples of it.
Look for patterns. Do certain themes clump together? Think about why. What are the best
quotes and examples for each theme you see?
Write up a paragraph on each theme, as draft material for your final report.
EXAMPLE OF A COLOR-CODED CODEBOOK
for site visit to Community Wealth Builders of Newton
(red=negative, green=positive)
1. CWBN as an employer
a) signs of low staff morale and negative dynamics among staff
b) signs of high staff morale & enthusiasm about the organization
c) Pay, benefits, organizational chart and other things about the jobs
3. The apartments we toured and what they show about the organization’s accomplishments
a) Residents’ comments about need for affordable housing
b) Construction, architecture attractive
c) Comments about older buildings needing repairs