Emerging Issues in Internal Communications

The data were analyzed using standard approaches. The researcher developed a code book and coded each interview individually under broad themes based on the conceptual framework and key variables under study. Next composite code sheets were created electronically using qualitative research software reflecting all the respondents' comments for a particular code. Then the researcher wrote memos and analyzed the data further to identify additional insights and refined the codebook. A key feature of the study was multiple participants at three of the companies/organizations discussed the same issues allowing a means for verifying accuracy. The data analysis also included negative or discrepant case analysis to identify any examples disconfirming or challenging emerging findings. To establish intercoder reliability, a sample of 25% of the transcripts was independently coded by a graduate student, who was trained using a code book. Both coders used the same qualitative research software for coding, which calculated the inter-rater reliability as 88.3%.