Appendix E: Sample Qualitative Coding Scheme
| Code | Inclusions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| News Source | Online articles from Vancouver Sun, Victoria Times-Colonist Montreal Gazette, Toronto Star, CBC News | Exclude news sources not noted, any print articles |
| Date | Date at which article was last updated
(e.g, “posted Jan 15, updated Jan 16” – record Jan 16) |
Exclude articles posted before or after 2021 |
| Sex of offender | Male, Female, unknown, unspecified
(use unspecified if there is no clear identification of offender) |
Do not rely on name to determine sex of offender Look for indicators like pronouns when name is used |
| Total offences | Total number of charges, listed offences or alleged offences in news article
Focus on interpersonal offences: Murder (all levels), attempted homicide, assault (all levels), robbery, sexual assault |
|
| Description of offences | How are the offences described?
What language used (e.g., ‘brutal assault’ or ‘bar fight’)? |
|
| Description of offender | Is the offender mentioned?
Is the offender’s race/ethnicity mentioned? How is this described? How is the offender’s physical appearance described? What language is used (e.g., ‘slight build’ or ‘aggressive stance’)? How is the offender’s behaviour and demeanour described? What language is used (e.g., ‘arrested without incident’ or ‘resisting arrest’)? |
