Which of the following refers to what text elements the researcher will code?

The concept that refers to what text elements the researcher will code is referred to as context units. Context units are essential as they define the specific segments of text, such as phrases or sentences, that will be analyzed and interpreted for meaning in qualitative research. By identifying these units, researchers can systematically categorize information and draw insights relevant to their study.

In the realm of qualitative analysis, context units help researchers focus on the relevant pieces of data that pertain to their research questions or objectives, allowing for the organization and interpretation of data in a meaningful way. They lay the foundation for coding the text, ensuring that the analysis is grounded in the actual content and context of the text being studied.

While sampling units refer to the broader category of items or subjects selected for study, recording units relate more to how the information is documented, and syntactical units involve the grammatical structures of the text. These terms do not capture the specific focus on the segments of text that will be coded for analysis in the same way that context units do. This distinction underscores the importance of context units in qualitative research methodologies.