Segmentation and Code Co-occurrence Accumulation: Operationalizing Relational Context with Stanza Windows

Abstract

Depending on analytical goals and techniques, qualitative data may be coded and segmented to investigate code or code co-occurrence frequencies. As codes are relevant aspects of data vis-à-vis the topic of inquiry, segments are meaningful divisions of those data. To explore various modes of segmentation, their underlying assumptions, and effects on potential models, the framework and terminology of Epistemic Network Analysis was employed as an analytical tool where coding and segmentation both contribute to data visualization. Three operationalizations of segmentation are elaborated: moving, infinite, and whole conversation stanza windows and demonstrated through instances where each of these may be applicable to data.