Build a qualitative codebook from my interview transcripts
Develops a codebook with definitions, inclusion rules, and examples from my data, ready for consistent coding and thematic analysis.
The prompt
Help me develop a codebook for qualitative analysis of my data.
Research question: [DETAILS]
Approach: [e.g. "reflexive thematic analysis", "framework analysis", "grounded theory", "deductive from a theory"]
Theory or framework guiding deductive codes (if any): [DETAILS]
Data excerpts: [PASTE 2-5 de-identified transcripts or excerpts]
Number of coders: [1 / 2+]
Steps:
1. Do an initial pass and propose codes grounded in the excerpts. Keep codes close to the data; separate descriptive codes from interpretive ones.
2. For each code give: name, definition, when to use, when not to use, and 1-2 verbatim example quotes from my data with their location.
3. Group codes into candidate categories or themes, noting which are well supported and which rest on one or two quotes.
4. Flag overlapping or ambiguous codes and suggest merges or splits.
5. Note negative cases or quotes that do not fit.
Return the codebook as a table (Code | Definition | Use when | Do not use when | Example quote), a draft theme map, and guidance for applying it consistently (or, for reflexive approaches, notes for my reflexive journal rather than inter-rater reliability).
Only quote text that appears in what I pasted. Remind me to remove identifying details before pasting and to follow my ethics approval on data sharing with AI tools.
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
Fill in the blanks and use this promptMore Data & Analysis prompts
What to fill in
- DETAILS
- PASTE 2-5 de-identified transcripts or excerpts
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the RTF structure (Role, Task, Format). RTF tells the model who to be, what to do and what shape the answer should take. It is the quickest structure that still gives noticeably better results than a bare request.
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