Core Workflow

Text Coding

Text coding lets you classify free-text responses into themes, producing a new categorical variable you can tabulate alongside the rest of your dataset. Recense supports AI-assisted theme generation and classification, with full manual override.

Core Workflow

When to use text coding

When your survey includes open-ended questions ("Why did you choose this brand?", "Describe your experience") and you want to include those responses in cross-tabulations or charts.

Core Workflow

The workflow

1

Select a text variable in the Text Coding panel.

Choose the open-ended question you want to code.

2

Generate themes.

The AI reads responses and proposes a codebook of themes.

3

Review and edit themes.

Rename, merge, split, or add themes manually.

4

Classify responses.

The AI assigns each response to one or more themes, with confidence scores.

5

Review classifications.

Manually override or correct assignments.

6

Publish.

The coded themes become a new categorical variable in your dataset.

Core Workflow

AI-assisted coding

  • Theme generation uses the AI to identify patterns across all responses.
  • Classification assigns themes per response with a confidence indicator.
  • You control the final codebook — the AI proposes, you decide.
  • Requires an active AI provider (BYOK or hosted).

Core Workflow

Manual overrides

  • Click any response to change its theme assignment.
  • Add new themes not suggested by the AI.
  • Corrections are preserved if you re-run classification.

Core Workflow

Using coded data

Once published, the new variable appears in the Variables list with type C (Categorical). You can:

  • Drag it into tables as rows or columns.
  • Cross-tabulate it against demographic or other variables.
  • Chart it like any other categorical variable.