aReverse coded for ease of interpretation.
PW provided substantive input on study design, Read code selection, interpretation of findings, and revision of manuscript drafts.
During this stage of the synthesis, the two researchers also examined each other's codes to check consistency of interpretation and to see whether additional levels of coding were needed [ 23].
All the authors received all interview transcripts, coded files and summaries of the emerging themes, reviewed and commented on the coding, analysis and plausibility of interpretation to refine and develop the analysis, and these issues were discussed at biannual project meetings.
This lack of standardization of diagnostic codes can cause problems of interpretation between comparison groups, but the sample size within each group is sufficiently large to be valid.
For instances where coding differed, an agreement of interpretation was reached through meetings with the project advisory group, which included content and methodological experts.
Before completing this stage of the synthesis, we also examined all the text which had a given code applied to check consistency of interpretation and to see whether additional levels of coding were needed.
Each survey asked for code status interpretation of stand-alone Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) and living will (LW) documents in 9 scenarios.
After initial independent coding of the transcripts by each of the authors, the coding and interpretation of all interviews belonging to one case unit (interviews of one patient, his/her relative, his/her nurse and physician) were discussed by the three authors for each patient story.
Consider, for a minute, that with the ability to access the code of a pre-programmed interpretation of the real world, the only limit to what one can modify is the computer hardware itself.
Field notes and memos were also used to facilitate reflexivity and the interviewers met frequently to ensure the consistency of the processes of interview, data entry, coding and interpretation of the data.
