still indexing categories but with some reflection

I'm about half way through the categorisation/coding of the data from my second case study. I've hit some snags associated with the Atlas software, particularly around the cumbersome nature of having 'codes' from the previous case inform and cloud the indexing work for the new case. Also all the codes get lumped together so filtering which codes apply specifically to one case and not the other presented some challenges. I keep wondering if my decision to work with only one unit and using a specific Altas related filtering system to separate documents into my two cases was working for me. But because I've never used the software before and the advice I was getting was based on a different kind of research study with different kinds of data it was really hard to make an informed decision. For the moment I've decided to carry on as is, but have found ways to signal clearly in the category naming the different cases the code applies to. It's a bit laborious and it means that I now have something like 120 code categories, but it's my workable solution. I also had to let go of worrying about the 'amount' of codes I actually had - as if the number of codes bears some correlation to whether or not you are doing a good job or not of this stage of the data reviewing and analysis. What I have come to realise is that it doesn't really matter what your codes, categories, indexing units are or how many of them you have - their function is really to guide you in the retrieve of interesting, useful slices of data for further analysis. If you have made some good decision about the naming conventions etc...that helps with retrieval later (because the time lag between doing the actual indexing work and retrieval can be quite big and your memory can let you down). But the main work happens when you look at all the quotes sitting under a particular category and then try to make sense of it. Some attention to detail at the indexing/coding stage helps of course - but it doesn't mean that there won't be problems when you actually have to work with those slices of data later.

So having sort-of resolved this little challenge that was causing me endless frustration earlier this week the indexing for this new case has proceeded fairly smoothly, if not slowly. I'm trying to learn from my experiences and just do a broad-brush-stroke first level sweep of the data. My strategy, which I found worked well for the other case, is after this initial indexing round to then listen/read all the data again - outside of Atlas - before doing a second round of indexing/coding and then finally start the strategic retrieval process where I get a print out of all the quotes under particular categories and begin to ask myself..."ok so what is going on here?"

All great right? The process seems robust enough and suitably plausible and remember I have some literature to back up my approach (always useful). But time of course, the sneaky bastard, is not being helpful. I looked at my work plan which I only revised on 24 August 2011 and I'm behind. How can I fall behind in like 2 months - the deadlines I set for the end of November will not, cannot be achieved. It's just impossible - even if I work 10 hours per day almost everyday until the end of the November I don't think I'll be able to meet that deadline (and beside can you imagine what a 'happy' person I might be working 10 hours a day everyday for the next month?). This isn't procedural work I have to do...I have to call upon all my understanding, my intellectual capacity, my cognitive insights developed over the last 4-6 years to try and make sense of my data, to see a story, an angle worthy of telling. It's all down to identifying, shaping, crafting that story...that will be the numb of my PhD. I don't think its something you can push or force out. And the strange thing is - this part of the work, this stage is what I find most rewarding, most respectful and accommodating of my research participants, the students and their learning - because it's where I start to see their perspective, their view, their understanding and experiences and try to represent that as authentically as I can in my work. That can't be forced out, I don't believe anyway. So I'm behind, always freaking behind and trying to stay sane and carve out some balance in my life.