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Qualitative Data Analysis Software

Overview and resource links for Qualitative Data Analysis Software (QDAS), uses and how to choose, focusing on QDAS supported by JHU Data Services: nVivo and Atlas.TI, with resource and training links to these and other QDA Software

For direct assistance

Contact us, JHU Data Services for assistance with access to nVivo and ATLAS.ti at the Data Services offices on A level, JHU Eisenhower Library.

Visit our website for more info and our upcoming training workshops!

Qualitative Data Analysis Software (QDAS) overview

Qualitative research has benefited from a range of software tools facilitating most qualitative methodological techniques, particularly those involving multimedia digital data. These guides focus on two major QDAS products, NVivo and ATLAS.ti. Both programs can be found on the workstations at the Data Services computer lab on A-level, Eisenhower Library, and NVivo is available through JHU's SAFE Desktop. This guide also lists other QDA software and linked resources.

Many university libraries have produced comprehensive guides on NVivo, ATLAS.ti, and other QDA software, to which we will provide links with our gratitude.

Schmider, Christian. n.d. What Qualitative Data Analysis Software Can and Can’t Do for You – an Intro Video. MERIT Library at the School of Education: School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Accessed January 7, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLKfaCiHVic.

Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) Software supports a variety of qualitative techniques and methodologies

Qualitative techniques supported by QDAS

Coding and Classifying
Writing: analysis, description, memos
Relating: finding and annotating connections, relationships, patterns
Audio/Visual analysis: marking, clipping, transcribing, annotating
Text mining: computer-aided discovery in large amounts of unstructured text
Visualization: diagramming, relationship and network patterns, quantitative summary

QDAS supported methodologies

Ethnography
Case studies
Grounded theory/ phenomenology
Discourse/narrative analysis
Sociolinguistic analysis
Collaborative qualitative research
Text analysis & text mining

Overview of qualitative methods from ATLAS.ti: https://atlasti.com/qualitative-research-methods/

Decision factors for your research

Methods to feature facilitation (in disciplinary context): How many features directly support your methodology?
Interface for collection, analysis, reports: Do features accommodate most phases of your research workflow?
Visualization and outputs: Does it produce and successfully export needed visualization without extensive modification?
Cost and access to software: Is it worth the investment cost as well as in learning to use it? Look for education discounts.
Software Comparisons: Commercial & Free. (George Mason University)

Lists of flagship software, free software, and tools for converting codebooks among QDA software. - QDA Software Comparison Chart (NYU Libraries)

Comparison chart of QDA software from NYU Library's LibGuide - Top 14 Qualitative Data Analysis Software

Guide with descriptive summaries of the main QDA software, several with business focus. - Dueling CAQDAS using ATLAS.ti and NVivo

Webinar comparing features and use of ATLAS.ti and NVIvo for qualitative data analysis. Includes live demos.

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Core QDAS functions

Basic functions common to most QDA programs, and to NVivo and ATLAS.ti in particular:

Coding
Application of a maintained set of terms and short phrases linked to segments of text or audio/video that can be queried and gathered for comparative analysis.
Annotation
Longer narrative notes attached to text or a/v segments, or to codes
Navigation / queries
Quick access to codes and segments that can be brought together in panel views for comparison, advanced Boolean search options, and flexible interlinking of segments, codes, and annotation
Transcription
Most QDAS facilitates transcribing audio and video, ideally maintaining the links between transcript and A/V segments.
Relationships/patterns
Gathering codes, segments, and annotations facilitates pattern discovery and further description of relationships. Some QDAS support social network analysis techniques and visualization
Reporting / collating
A range of reports using queries and filters to assemble data and annotations facilitates analysis and writing results.
Visualization
Typically includes code tables, social network graphs, and annotated A/V clips.
Collaboration
Shared access to data & analysis, facilitating comments and discussion, and tracking contributor actions and changes.
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