Table 16.3 Description of Coding Types Used in Grounded Theory Studies Coding Purpose Open coding• It deals with labeling and categorizing phenomenon in the data. • It uses the comparative method.•Data are broken down by asking what, where, how, when, how much, and so on. • Similar incidents are grouped together and given the same conceptual label. • Concepts are grouped together into categories.•The purpose is to develop core concepts, categories,and properties.Axial coding•It is designed to put data back together that were broken apart in open coding. •It develops connections between a category and its subcatego ries (not between discrete categories).• Its purpose is to develop main categories and subcategories. Selective coding• It shows the connections between the discrete categories. • Categories that have been developed to build the theoretical framework are integrated. •Its purpose is to bring the categories together into an overall theory.