Final answer:
Axial Coding is a stage in the qualitative data analysis within Grounded Theory, where researchers organize data into categories and establish relationships among them to create a framework explaining the study's phenomena.
Step-by-step explanation:
Axial Coding is one of the three Types of Straussian Coding used in qualitative research, particularly within the Grounded Theory method. After the initial open coding of data, axial coding involves the process of reassembling the data that was fractured during open coding to form coherent categories. This is done by identifying relationships between categories and subcategories and establishing connections.
Researchers use axial coding to refine and differentiate between categories, typically creating a central category or 'axis' around which other categories are related. The goal is to create a framework that explains the phenomena under study. This systematic approach helps in developing a complex model of understanding by making connections between the coded data that were not immediately apparent during the initial coding phase.