KISS Statistical Research
Counting, Coding, and Crunching the Data
Each group of passages has a file created with
Toolbook(TM). Each file has data fields
for the unanalyzed passages, for the coded passages, and for data on each
of the constructions that is counted. To code a passage, I use a program
called Casacode, which I created in Toolbook. Codes are inserted by selecting
a code and then clicking on the word where that code is to be placed. I
normally run through each passage at least three times, first inserting
the codes for prepositional phrases and compounds, then for clauses, and
finally for verbals and other constructions.
A click on a button sends the coded passage
to another page where the words and codes are counted. The counting procedure
includes some traps for errors, such as missing closing codes for prepositional
phrases or clauses. Another button click sends the coded passage and all
data associated with it back to the home file.
Because all passages are sent through the
same counting page, I can be sure that the data in all the passages from
all the studies has been counted in the same way.
The coded passages are transferred to html
documents by copying and pasting. In this process, the color in the codes
is lost. I therefore review the file, again usually in three passes, redoing
the color. In this process, I have found a few errors or omissions which
are then fixed, both in the html version and in the Casacode program. After
such changes, of course, the corrected file is resent to the counting page.
The data is then transferred by hand to these web pages. |