Axial Coding

In: The SAGE Encyclopedia of Communication Research

Methods

By: Nathaniel Simmons

Edited by: Mike Allen
Book Title: The SAGE Encyclopedia of Communication Research Methods
Chapter Title: "Axial Coding"
Pub. Date: 2018
Access Date: August 9, 2020
Publishing Company: SAGE Publications, Inc
City: Thousand Oaks
Print ISBN: 9781483381435
Online ISBN: 9781483381411
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483381411
Print pages: 80-82
© 2017 SAGE Publications, Inc All Rights Reserved.
This PDF has been generated from SAGE Research Methods. Please note that the pagination of the
online version will vary from the pagination of the print book.
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Axial coding is a qualitative research technique that involves relating data together in order to reveal codes,
categories, and subcategories ground within participants’ voices within one’s collected data. In other words,
axial coding is one way to construct linkages between data. Axial coding has a historical relationship
with grounded theory, which is a qualitative methodological framework that involves constantly comparing
emergent themes within one’s data set in order to make theoretical claims regarding one’s communicative
conduct. Coding, or the process of inductively locating linkages between data, may occur in myriad ways
such as behaviors, events, activities, strategies, states, meanings, participation, relationships, conditions,
consequences, and settings, to name a few.

This entry first discusses axial coding as a method for analysis and further defines essential concepts. Next, it
considers its roots in grounded theory and describes the axial coding process, including identifying categories
and subcategories and memo writing. Lastly, this entry explores the usefulness of and controversies
associated with axial coding.

Method for Analysis

Within and inspired by grounded theory, axial coding is the process of relating pieces, or codes, of data to
each other. In other words, using deductive and inductive reasoning, axial coding is a process of looking
for relationship identification between open codes. In essence, axial coding seeks to identify central (i.e.,
axis) phenomena in one’s data. Axial coding is a middle or later stage method for analysis. In other
words, axial coding is the process of integrating categories and subcategories. In particular, axial coding
makes connections between categories that reveal themes, new categories, or new subcategories. Such
methodology is typically applied to short textual passages or segments. Hypothetical relationships, or
relationships that appear to be emergent throughout the coding process, are repeatedly checked deductively
in light of new data or material to ensure credible claims may be made. Axial coding has proved to be a
trustworthy and credible tool for analysis throughout the communication discipline and others.

Coding in Qualitative Research

Scholars across disciplines agree that codes are linkages between data. It is possible to code one’s collected
data in myriad ways. For instance, behaviors, events, activities, strategies, states, meanings, participation,
relationships, conditions, consequences, and settings are examples of items that may be coded. Behaviors
refer to specific behavioral acts that occur. Scholars often agree that events are single occurring instances.
Such instances may be once in a lifetime or instances shared in narrative formats. Activities, on the
contrary, refer to instances that occur throughout a longer duration and might also be continuous in nature.
Strategies refer to specific identifiable practices in communicative events or activities. States refer to general
physical, mental, and emotional conditions that individuals experience. Meanings are diverse phenomenon
that influences how participants act, how they might act, and how they believe they will act or others should
have acted. Relationships are essentially linked interactions in which participants derive, construct, and re-

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construct some type of meaning that is perceived to be beneficial. Conditions may also be referred to as
constraints and may be anything that influences the context of the interaction. Consequences refer to rewards
and costs of specific behavior, events, activities, or actions. Finally, settings refer to the communication
context of the event or activity. Now that a definition and examples of items and instances that can be coded
are clear, it is important to consider the roots or history of axial coding within grounded theory.

The Influence of Grounded Theory on Axial Coding

Although this is not an encyclopedia entry about grounded theory, it is important to understand basic premises
of grounded theory in order to better understand the methodological tool of axial coding. Axial coding derived
from grounded theory. Ground theory is essentially one of the most influential methodological perspectives
and tools for analysis within qualitative data. Numerous disciplines including communication employ the utility
of grounded theory and its methodological tools such as axial coding. Although expanded since its inception,
grounded theory is essentially the process of constructing a theory from one’s data analysis. Essentially,
researchers examine their collected data to view, review, compare, re-compare, and contrast data to form
codes, concepts, categories, and subcategories. Such items may lead to the development or basis of a
new theory. This approach has numerous advantages including being based in participants’ voices and
experiences as well as the likelihood of uncovering novel findings. However, grounded theory is heavily
criticized by those who discredit inductive or qualitative research. Therefore, grounded theorists ensure the
trustworthiness and credibility of their claims by constantly comparing their findings and emergent themes
with their data sets to ensure their interpretation is in fact grounded within the voice of their participants. In
addition to understanding the historical impact and birth place of axial coding, it is important to understand
what types of coding categories and subcategories exist within axial coding.

Axial Coding Categories and Subcategories

The themes that axial coding reveal may span across several categories and subcategories. These
categories and subcategories come into light via constant comparative method. This process involves
exploring various readings and re-readings of one’s data. For instance, in axial coding, researchers re-read
data while using concepts, categories, and subcategories to ensure concepts, categories, and subcategories
reflect participants’ voices as well as to explore relations between the two. Scholars agree that axial coding
reveals insight into causal conditions, context, strategies, and consequences. Causal conditions are those
that create or bring about emergent themes. Causal conditions are broad theoretical concepts. Such concepts
may include events, incidents, or activities that lead up to a theme. Causal conditions may offer explanations
and specific identifiable accounts for the theme. In addition, reasons for the emergent theme may also come
to light. Context refers to the environment or the situation in which the emergent theme derives from or is
embedded. Contexts may also become visible as related to space and place, meaning that locations may be
both temporary and physical. Strategies, also referred to as intervening conditions, refer to both verbal and
nonverbal interacts that reveal how a theme is managed, co-constructed, enabled, constrained, and carried

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out. In other words, strategies refer to general conditions that influence the action.

Consequences refer to the end result, or the influencing force of such strategies. Some scholars also refer to
consequences as actions. Consequences of actions examine the communicative acts between at least two
people. Such actions are either goal- or process-oriented. Goal-oriented actions are not necessarily always
conscious. Therefore, goal-oriented actions may be both conscious and unconscious actions to achieve a
desired outcome. Process-oriented actions are those that allow for an analysis of chronological events, or
events or actions over time. Processes may be examined or captured in myriad ways: for example, examining
any repetition such as repeating cycles of events, words, or actions; action steps or phases that led up
to an event; or identifying and paying particular attention to incremental steps and stages along the way.
Regardless of coding strategy, the analytic task of axial coding is to distinguish and discern relationships for
theme clarity.

Axial Coding and Memos

Memo writing is one tool that can assist in the axial coding process. Memo writing is a process in which
a researcher reflects upon her or his findings in written communication with one’s self. Throughout as well
as upon completion of the analytical coding process, researchers who use memos visit and revisit initial
impressions, thoughts, and considerations, as well as explorations that come to mind while immersed in one’s
data. This process heightens one’s theoretical sensitivity and sense-making. Qualitative scholars argue that
memos enhance one’s trustworthiness and credibility and, therefore, one’s theoretical claims and study as
it constructs an audit trail for others to view if desired. Such an audit trail will allow for a visual road map of
a researcher’s theoretical decision making, conclusions, thought processes, and queries. It is important to
note that not all memos will be groundbreaking and particularly relevant for one’s final project. Some memos
may read as mundane or disinteresting upon completion of one’s project. Regardless of interest and usability,
enhanced credibility and a tangible audit trail encourage numerous qualitative scholars to employ memo-
taking habits while engaging in axial coding processes within grounded theory. Finally, memo taking and
reflection may also assist in better understanding one’s visual road map for decisions to cluster together,
group, and organize data into groups via axial coding.

Using Axial Coding

Qualitative researchers, like quantitative researchers, make choices about preferred means and methodology
that make the most sense and answer one’s research questions and/or hypotheses. Axial coding may be
used in a variety of ways in order to enrich one’s data analysis process. A large number of qualitative scholars
use an abbreviated form of axial coding. For instance, in research publications, this may read something to
the effect of “techniques of axial coding were used in this study.” This may read quite broad and vague to
the untrained scholar and novice researcher, but it is hoped that readers, after reading this entry, will see that
axial coding not only may be an abbreviated clustering process that not only enhances theoretical claims and
sense-making, but also may be a tool that can overall enhance one’s claims. In other words, techniques of
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axial coding may be employed in a variety of settings. Some scholars argue that the process of looking at how
larger pieces of data fit, group, and cluster together is axial coding. With this definition in mind, axial coding is
incredibly useful and predominately used in a wide variety of qualitative studies.

The Controversy Over Axial Coding

Despite its utility, axial coding is not without controversy. In 1990, axial coding was initiated as a type of
intermediary coding procedure set. However, in the late 1970s, scholars argued that data should not be forced
into any particular genres, which is suggested by the 1990 version of axial coding. Therefore, debate exists
as to which is most relevant or close with what is considered true usage of axial coding. Regardless of one’s
opinion on this debate, it is important to note that this debate exists largely within one’s use of axial coding
toward the construction of a grounded theory.

Nathaniel Simmons

See also Categorization; Coding, Fixed; Coding, Flexible; Coding of Data; Ethnography; Ethnomethodology;
Grounded Theory; Thematic Analysis

Further Readings

Baxter, L., & Babbie, E. (2003). The basics of communication research. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

Bryant, A., & Charmaz, K. (2007). The Sage handbook of grounded theory. London, UK: Sage.

Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: A practical guide through qualitative analysis. London,
UK: Sage.

Glaser, B. G. (1978). Theoretical sensitivity. Mill Valley, CA: The Sociology Press.

Glaser, B. G., & Strauss, A. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research.
Chicago, IL: Aldine.

Kendall, J. (1999). Axial coding and the grounded theory controversy. Western Journal of Nursing Research,
21(6), 743–757.

Lindlof, T. R., & Taylor, B. C. (2010). Qualitative communication research methods. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage.

Pandit, N. R. (1996). The creation of theory: A recent application of the grounded theory method. The
Qualitative Report, 2(4), 1–14.

Strauss, A. (1987). Qualitative analysis for social scientists. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. M. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and
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techniques. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Walker, D., & Myrick, F. (2006). Grounded theory: An exploration of process and procedure. Qualitative Health
Research, 16(4), 547–559.

Nathaniel Simmons

http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781483381411.n33
10.4135/9781483381411.n33

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