Back to Main Aluminum Menu KISS Grammar
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.