InfoGuides: QUALitative Research & Tools: QDAS Software

[Computer Aided] Qualitative Data Analysis Software is known as QDAS or CAQDAS ("Kak-das") is software that assists with the analysis done by Qualitative researchers in the social, health, and behavioral sciences.

The Journey of Qualitative Data Analysis (Susanne Friese)
Description of the process with 21 videos from 5 to 30 min. Examples in MAXQDA, Atlas.ti, and Quirkos.

Using Software in Qualitative Research by Ann Lewins; Christina Silver
Call Number: H61.3 .L49 and Available ONLINE through Mason Libraries

ISBN: 9781446249727

Publication Date: 2014-05-21

See also the companion website with additional help for each software.

Doing Qualitative Research Using Your Computer by Chris Hahn
Call Number: Available ONLINE through Mason Libraries

ISBN: 9781412946933

Publication Date: 2008-05-06

Choosing QDAS Software

Qualitative Software Comparison (George Mason DDSS)
What are the similarities and differences between NVivo, MAXQDA, Atlas.ti, and Dedoose? What factors do you need to consider?

Primary Full-Feature Software Packages

Atlas.ti - Originally designed for Grounded theory analysis, Atlas.ti excels at memos and other tools for theory building. It also has network tools and a companion online version. Recent versions have greatly improved labeling and added features that were standard for it's competators.
MAXQDA - Although newer than others, MAXQDA takes advantage of this with many colors, emoji's, and on-the-fly filtering. The interface tends to be more cluttered and redundant, but an identical interface across platforms, regular improvements, and free course licenses and read-only access to projects make it an attractive option.
NVivo - A streamlined and familiar interface and support for a variety of data types and organizational structures make NVivo a good all-around choice for any project. But, annotations and memos are less integrated than they should be, and the Mac version has both fewer features and a different file type (hindering collaboration). Those, combined with the increasingly restrictive and expensive licensing, has many looking elsewhere.

Choosing QDA Software (NYU Libraries)
Video: Dueling CAQDAS - Atlas.ti vs NVivo webinar (iassistdata)
CAQDAS (Computer Assisted Qualitative Data AnalysiS) Networking Project
- Software-focused site by the Sociology Department at the University of Surrey
- Includes help on choosing software and news on the most popular packages
- Atlas.ti, DEDOOSE, DRS, f4Analyse, HyperRESEARCH, MAXQDA, MiMeG, NVivo, Transana, QDA Miner, QUIRKOS, weQDA
QUAL-SOFTWARE discussion list
- UK based, but broadly useful

Note the date of these sites, as software changes frequently!

Transferring Projects Between Software

Software Independence

All the major Qualitative software packages have implemented an exchange file format allowing you to transfer your project from one software to another. We highly recommend using a software that supports the project exchange format OR that is open-source.

Project Exchange - Allows the entire project to be converted from one software to another. Do NOT expect that that complex projects or those using special features of a software will be transferred as desired. You can expect the transferred project to include all documents and any straightforward coding.
- Supported by: ATLAS.ti, Dedoose, Leipzig Corpus Miner, MAXQDA, NVivo, QDA Miner, Quirkos, Transana
Codebook Exchange - Allows the codebook to be transferred from one software to another.
- Supported by: the above plus f4analyse, HyerRESEARCH

Software Coding Tips

Coding Tips

Avoid too many codes. Each code (at least ultimately) should be used at least 4-6 times. Don't go over 100 codes without talking to someone, 20-50 is better.
Code using overlap. Instead of separate codes for "Positive Economy" "Postive Environment" "Negative Economy" and "Negative Economy", use "Negative", "Positive", "Environment", and "Economy". In this example, it isn't fewer codes, but it scales better and will be easier to compare later.
Code entire thoughts. Analysis is done through the retrieval phase where you look at the coded references. If you see just a bunch of single words that will not be helpful. Plus, that will not allow for coding overlap.