Common use of Coding Clause in Contracts

Coding. GTM takes place over various stages of coding. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (2017) notes that ‘coding has two purposes: to capture the substantive content of the area under study; and to articulate relationships that can be observed in the data (Lehane 2017, p.70). In other words, understanding the data and how they relate to each other. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (2013) suggests that following ▇▇▇▇▇▇’▇ 1978 model of having three rounds of coding is the simplest, most effective way to code using GTM. Firstly, open coding, which involves the researcher going through data line by line with an open-mind, looking for any emerging themes that appear. This can be as simple as basic, unconnected observations, trying to ascertain what is happening in the data (Lehane 2017). Secondly, grouping the open codes into larger categories – known as selective coding or substantive coding, which are the basis for comparison to create larger theory (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 2013). The final stage is theoretical coding, in which the categories are considered in relationship to each other for the purposes of theory-building. As ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (2017) puts it, ‘theoretical coding involves identifying and conceptualising the relationships between substantive codes’ (Lehane 2017, p.85). Another central aspect of GTM is the constant comparison of data. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ offer this key rule for coding: ‘while coding an incident for a category, compare it with the previous incidents in the same and different groups coded in the same category’ (▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1967, p.106). While this appears simple, they argue that it is vital for identifying the theoretical properties of the data and the relationship of categories to both themselves and others. ▇▇▇ argues that a virtue of constant comparison is that it protects against over interpretation of data by finding connections that do not exist (▇▇▇ 2011). Accordingly, at each stage of GTM coding in this research, data are compared to other data in the same category. The bringing together of the constant comparison and the coding is aided by the process of memoing. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (2017) describes this as an essential feature of GTM and a valuable way of engaging with the data. Rather than simply acting as notes to remember thoughts, they are used to organise theoretical categories by comparing core concepts against each other, or as ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (2006) notes, the researcher reflects on what they have seen, heard, sensed, and coded to help to formulate their ideas.