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The Role of Qualitative Software in Analysis

Raymond C. C Maietta
ResearchTalk Inc. Info@researchtalk.com www.researchtalk.com

Copyright 2007 ResearchTalk Inc.

Solid Foundation in Place

| Software is a Useful Tool But Not the Solution to Analysis Challenges.
| Qualitative software packages offer a generic set of processes attractive to a wide variety of researchers who cut across a range of qualitative traditions. | 3 Feature Programs for this Presentation:
z ATLAS.ti z MAXQDA z NVIVO

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Understanding Software via the Literature about It.

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Tesch (1990) effectively described matches between A l i T Analysis Types and dS Software ft T Tools. l Weitzman and Miles (1994) and Fielding and Lee (1998) address theory work and layout the evolving convergence of functionality across major packages. Creswell and Maietta (2002) and Lewins and Silver (2007) compare packages via a presentation of functions common for a range of qualitative analysis approaches approaches. Maietta (2006) pushes the notion of integrating software with qualitative analysis, thus prioritizing the researchers role in the process.

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Qualitative Software Evolution

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Convergence g of functionality y= convergence of methodology and software The differences that currently exist are now more stylistic and based on issues related to the look and feel of the program, rather than concrete methodological and design issues issues. The most significant changes surround the code and retrieve process.
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Beyond Code and Retrieve

Work with inductive or deductive categories | Write detailed memos | Begin analysis within software before, or without, coding | Look at complex connections between codes. | Diagram ideas with modeling tools.
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3 System architecture of qualitative software

zDocument

system work with a range of data types (text, text with images, images, audio, and/or video) zCategory system categorize, compare and assess patterns in data. zMemo system write notes and monitor evolving ideas throughout your analysis. The guidelines of your qualitative approach determine what documents and categories you use when and how and why you use memos.
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Supplemental Tools
zInitial

Document Review Tools simulate off-screen highlighting of text with margin notes. zQuestion and Answer Tools find instances of cooccurrences in text and compare along demographic lines. zDiagramming Functions draw potential and diagnosed connections you discover in text. These tools expand the use of qualitative software software. They increase your ability to stay close to your data, entertain alternative descriptions of what you find and access information you record.

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Qualitative Analysis (Software Use) Cycle

Organize

Access

Reflect

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4/16/2009

Qualitative Analysis (Software Use) Cycle

Organize

Access

Reflect
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The Users Role

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The secret to peaceful co-existence:

Researcher R h must t control t l what h ti is done when z The language and structure of software should not interfere
z

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Advantages of Qualitative Software

Qualitative Software is designed as a tool for organization of and access to qualitative data | Project design, analysis and conclusions are all user driven. | Software S ft advantages d t are best b t witnessed via an outline of the qualitative analysis process.
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Disadvantages?
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Careful application of qualitative software depends on two main user characteristics: zKnowledge K l d of f qualitative lit ti analysis l i and d a flexible fl ibl posture t to working with qualitative data. zComfort with computers and confidence in their use. Qualitative software use in and of itself is not problematic. zMost problems involve an over-reliance on codes as a means of discovery in the qualitative analysis process. process zOpen reading of text, memo writing and diagramming should supplement the use of codes in analysis.

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Organizing Data
Qualitative software does not dictate where to begin analysis. Three sets of tools assist early analysis. | Tools for Open Text Review | Tools for Memo Writing | Tools for Categorization

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Simulate off-screen highlighting of text

ATLAS.ti and MAXQDA contain specific functionality for marking and labeling text without coding.

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MAXQDA Color Code and Memo System

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Quotations in ATLAS.ti

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Advantages of Computerized Text Highlighting

Gather all key segments that arise during first reads of text. | Work with lists of segment names to assess the range of topics that exist in your data. | Diagram Di sections ti of f di discussion i within ithi documents to create data collection Episode Profiles
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Episode Profiles

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Memo Writing
Loose Data Review or Categorization with Memo Writing

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ATLAS.ti Memo System

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MAXQDA Memo System

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NVIVO Code and Annotation

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Codework Demographics
Loose Data Review or Categorization with Memo Writing

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ATLAS.ti Code System

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MAXQDA Code System

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NVIVO Code System

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Hierarchical Display, can be flat if you choose choose.

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Demographic Filters - MQ

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Q & A and Theory Work

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ATLAS.ti Code Review

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NVIVO Grouped Find Results

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MAXQDA Code Relations Browser

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NVIVO Matrix Search

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Diagramming Tools

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ATLAS.ti Network View

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MAX Maps

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NVIVO Models

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Questions? Misc.
Team Work | Interaction with Quantitative Data
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Import and describe attributes z Export counts and quantitative data

z

Cost | ??
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Choosing Software
Popularity p y NOT a reliable strategy gy | Dont expect software to change your method | Consider analysis approach before software choice | Most packages offer similar features | Data format and depth of theoretical pursuit narrow choice
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Defining State of the Art

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Computer Sophistication
z z z

Invite Qualitative Options

z z

Reliability Project Management Convenience Features

Right mouse click Drag and drop Sensible menus Screen look and feel
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Flexibility Fluidity

Qualitative Resource List

Charmaz, K. 2000. Grounded theory: objectivist and constructivist methods. In N. K. Denzin and Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research, 2nd ed., pp. 509-535. Sage. Clarke, A. E., 2005. Situational Analysis: Grounded theory after the postmodern turn. Sage. Creswell, J. W. 1998. Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. Sage. Creswell, J.W. & Maietta, R.C. 2001. Systematic Procedures of Inquiry and Computer Data Analysis Software for Qualitative Research. In Handbook of Research Design and Social Measurement, 6th Edition, Salkin, N.J. Sage. Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. eds, (1998). Strategies of qualitative inquiry (Handbook of qualitative research paperback edition , Vol 2) Thousand Oaks: CA: Sage Denzin, N. & Lincoln, Y. 1994, 2000. Handbook of qualitative research. 1st, (2nd ed.) Sage. Fielding, N. & Lee, R. (1998). Computer analysis and qualitative research. Thousands Oaks, CA: Sage Lewins and Silver (2007). Using Software in Qualitative Analysis. Sage: Thousand Oaks. Lofland, John, Lyn Lofland. 1984. Analyzing Social Settings. Wadsworth. Maietta, Raymond C. (2006). State of the Art: Integrating Software with Qualitative Analysis. In Improving Aging and Public Health Research: Qualitative and Mixed Methods. Leslie Curry, Renee Shield and Terrie Wetle, (Eds.) Washington, DC: American Public Health Association and the Gerontological Society of America Patton. M. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Seidel, John 1998. Appendix E: Qualitative Data Analysis. In The ETHNOGRAPH 5.0 Manual. Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Sage.

Tesch, R. (1990). Qualitative Research: Analysis Types and Software Tools. New York: Falmer Press. Weitzman & Miles (1995). Computer Programs for Qualitative Analysis. Sage: Thousand Oaks
On-Line Sources ResearchTalk - Qualitative Research Consulting and Professional DevelopmentSoftware Sales www.researchtalk.com FQS Forum Qualitative Social Research at http://www.qualitative-research.net/fqs/fqs-eng.htm Computer Qualitative Data Analysis Software Network (CQDAS) at http://caqdas.soc.surrey.ac.uk/index.htm Dr. Donald Ratcliff (N.D.) Notes for five part seminar on qualitative research. http://www.vanguard.edu/faculty/dratcliff/qual/
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