HyperRESEARCH Technical Note:

Creating and Using a List of Standard Codes

Jeanne A. E. DeVoto
April 23, 2007

If you or your research group has a list of standard codes, you can create a master code list to import into every new HyperRESEARCH study file you create. You can use these standard codes along with additional codes for the specific study you're working on. This Technical Note will show you how to use such a standardized list.

Introduction

You and your research group may want to use the same list of codes in more than one study file. You can use such a code list:

• To easily re-use the same set of codes for multiple related studies
• To distribute an updated or expanded list of codes when several researchers are working on the same study
• To use a standard set of codes for a department or working group, with other, study-specific codes added to it as needed
• To avoid inconsistencies such as variant spellings

Your code list can be used either as a basic set (that can have more codes added for each study file), or as a way of maintaining a single, constant list of codes across several study files.

The format of the code list file is as follows:

• Each code is on a separate line.
• Each line consists of the code name, a tab, and the code description (if there is one).
• If the code description contains multiple lines, the lines are separated by a linefeed (ASCII 11).
  

Preparing and exporting the codes in HyperRESEARCH

If you already have a list of codes that you've prepared in a HyperRESEARCH study file, you can easily export this list to a file. The file can then be used in other study files.

1. If the Code List Editor window is not already visible, choose Codes > Code List Editor to show it.

2. From the "Edit Codes" menu at the top of the Code List Editor window, choose "Export List".

3. Enter a name for the exported list, then export the file.

The code list file is created on your disk in plain text format.

• If you don't want to make any changes to the code list, skip to "Importing the Codes Into a Study".

• If you want to make changes to the code list by hand, you can open it in any text editor.

Modifying the codes in a text editor or spreadsheet

If you like, you can change the exported file before using it, adding or deleting codes and code descriptions.

To make changes to the exported file:

1. Open the file in any word processor or text editor.

2. Each code is on a separate line of the file.
• To remove a code, delete the entire line it's on.
• To add a code, add a new line, type the code's name, then press the Tab key.
• To add a code description, enter it on the same line as the code, after the Tab character.

3. When you're finished, save the file. (If you are using a word processor such as Microsoft Word, make sure you save the file in "Plain Text" or "Text Only" format.)

Distributing the code list

Since the code list is a single text file, you can distribute it to other team members in any way that's convenient:

• Place it on a server for download and reference.
• Email it to members of your research team.
• Distribute it on CD-ROM or package it with other files.

Importing the codes into a study

As the last step, the researchers will import the list into their study files. To import the code list into a study file:

1. Open the study file that you want to import the codes list to (or create a new study file).

2. If the Code List Editor window is not already visible, choose Codes > Code List Editor to show it.

3. From the "Edit Codes" menu at the top of the Code List Editor window, choose "Export List".

4. Choose your code list file in the dialog box that appears.

The codes from the code list file are added to your study file, and appear in the Code List Editor.

You can add a code list file even if you've already begun coding in your study file. The import process simply adds the new codes from the list, without deleting any codes that are already in the study.

You can even use this method to replace an outdated list of standard codes with a new one. If an imported code has the same name as a code that's already in the file, the imported code replaces the old one. (Use this feature to add or replace code descriptions for existing codes.)

Future Options

If you're part of a multi-person research team, you need features that are adapted for complex study setups. If you have suggestions for other ways we can enhance HyperRESEARCH for your workflow and environment, please feel free to drop us a note with your request and we'll see if we can include it in a future version.

This modest enhancement was added in response to a customer request. While it may not be useful to everyone, it illustrates ResearchWare's willingness to explore options for making HyperRESEARCH flexibly adapt to your needs. If you have suggestions for other ways we can enhance HyperRESEARCH for your workflow and environment please feel free to drop me a note with your request and we'll see if we can include it in a future version.