Typologization of inequality situations: algorithms of qualitative data analysis

The author considers two algorithms for qualitative data analysis, which can be used in exploratory research of social inequality based on respondents' selfcategorization and biographic identity construction. One method is proposed by U. Gerhardt and based upon M. Weber's “ideal types” method. It is intended for work with biographical interviews. The other one is a method of “case-oriented quantification”, developed by U. Kuckartz for open-ended questions operations. The methodologies under consideration contribute to development of the empirically based typology.