This week we used we had a go at NVivo9 qualitative data analysis software. Prior to this class I had already attended a full day training session on NVivo software so I was familiar with what it does and how to use it. I think that NVivo is very useful in terms of storing all your data in one place as well as provide tools in order to help a researcher determine emerging themes and assign meaning from their data. I had a look at the tutorial videos on You Tube as well as the getting started guide. NVivo is one of the most popular qualitative data analysis tools used in business, government and academia.
NVivo is quite versatile in that a wide range of data can be imported and shared with colleagues on group projects, including documents, papers, articles, books, spreadsheets, databases, photos, video and audio files. In addition to analysing the various forms of data, NVivo can be used to manage bibliographical data or literature reviews. NVivo would be of great value when you are working on a significant project, such as a PhD. However, I think that in the end just like when you use a calculator, the researcher needs to do the real analysis because qualitative analysis involves reading, thinking, reflecting, writing, which all lead towards an argument.
I have also been attending some training courses and recently I went to an EndNote class to learn how to deal with bibliographical software. I think that these software packages all have some value, however it's all about finding something that works for you. I have a very simple and effective system of managing my list of sources - I have a word document and continuously add new references under different headings depending on what issues that relate to, ie. management control systems, actor-network theory, methodology, coopetition, etc. Either way, it involves the researcher doing the thinking work.
Unfortunately, NVivo does not transcribe verbal interviews from your digital recorder into a text document, and there are some other shortcomings of NVivo. Also, given that qualitative research, is a very iterative process/cycle I wonder if it is reflexible enough when the direction of your project changes and a researcher needs to change the structure of the project. For example, the framework of the nodes and categories need to be altered. However, in terms of running various queries in order to identify some characteristics in your data (which manually may be difficult), NVivo should be very helpful.
Hi Catherine – you’re covering some really interesting ground on this blog!
ReplyDeleteI like your point that researchers need to do the ‘real analysis’ and I’m glad you find NVivo to be a useful support in this process.
You're right, NVivo doesn’t convert audio to text but our developers have been exploring ways to achieve this. Unfortunately, voice recognition technology isn’t yet mature enough to give adequate results but they’re monitoring advances in that space - as well as looking at other ways to help researchers with transcription. NVivo does provide great flexibility for managing nodes and categories – you can easily add, delete, merge and move nodes around in the hierarchy - so when your project changes direction there is no need for tedious rework. I’m a technical writer working on NVivo and I love to hear about how researchers approach their qual projects – so thanks for all this great info!
Hi Kath,
ReplyDeleteI am glad you have found my blog to be helpful in hearing the needs of researchers and how researchers approach their qualitative projects. It would be great if researchers can work more closely with professionals to design products that are mutually beneficial.
I think that it is worth noting that NVivo can be used not only by qualitative researchers, but also quantitative researchers, particularly with respect to managing their literature and references, which is something common to all researchers. Because all research requires theoretical and conceptual (text) issues that need to be managed, thought through and written up.
Also, I am wondering if mind maps and other thinking tools can be incorporated into NVivo.
Catherine