In Vivo Coding — Qualitative Coding from Participants' Own Words

In vivo coding is a qualitative first-cycle coding strategy in which the researcher uses the participants' own words or short phrases verbatim as code labels, rather than imposing researcher-generated or theoretical language. The technique preserves the voice, meaning, and conceptual priorities of participants, making it especially valuable in grounded theory, phenomenology, and any study where honouring the emic (insider) perspective is central to analytic integrity.