DEVELOPMENTAL CRISIS IN EARLY ADULTHOOD: A ...

Developing Superordinate Themes and/or Pattern Codes
IPA and the Interactive Model are in agreement that it is through hierarchical
arrangement of themes that analytical progress is achieved after initial themes are
created. They have similar techniques for combining themes into higher units of
organisation. In IPA these higher units of meaning are called “superordinate themes”
and in the Interactive Model they are called “pattern codes”. Superordinate themes or
pattern codes hierarchically subsume and group the lower-level themes or codes. It is
through this process that synthesis occurs and meaningful relationships emerge from
qualitative data.
In IPA, to establish superordinate themes, themes are clustered together into
meaningful categories that have a common core or common denominator. A list of
these superordinate themes is created for each case first, then for groups of cases and
then for the sample as a whole. The final list of super-ordinate themes is the result of
an iterative process of moving between within-case and cross-case modes of analysis
(Smith and Eatough, 2006).
In Miles and Huberman’s approach, “pattern codes” are created to subsume
the lower order units of meaning into more generic categories and constructs, by a
similar process of clustering and grouping:
“First-level coding is a device for summarizing segments of data. Pattern coding is a
way of grouping those summaries into a smaller number of sets, themes, or
constructs.” (1994, p.69)
“Pattern codes are explanatory or inferential codes, ones that can identify an emergent
theme, configuration, or explanation. They pull together a lot of material into more
meaningful and parsimonious units of analysis. They are a sort of meta-code.” (1994,
p.69)
Clustering Cases
Clustering of cases is another process that can be used in the composite model,
based on Miles and Huberman’s approach (1994). Case clustering involves sorting
individuals into groups that have commonalities, and can provide an intermediary
level for cross-case analysis; after each individual case is analysed, clusters can then
be analysed before the whole sample is attempted. Clusters can be established a-
priori if one is doing confirmatory research, but in the case of exploratory research
such as this thesis, clusters can emerge from contact with the data, after within-case
analysis, but before intensive between-case analysis. Members of a cluster can be
similar on one dimension, on several dimensions or on a general configuration. The
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