Computer assisted qualitative research analysis software

Draft

Definition

Computer Assisted Qualitative Research Analysis Software (CAQDAS)

CAQDAS Software has been around for quite some time now (see Fielding, 1993). According to Bhowmick (2006), Weitzman and Miles (1995) classified these software into five categories. These are

1. Text Retrievers
2. Textbase Managers
3. Code and Retrieve programs
4. Code Based Theory Builders
5. Conceptual Network Builders

Some software (e.g. the popular ATLAS-ti and NVivo are both coding and conceptual network builders).

Links

General

• The CAQDAS Networking Project

• CAQDAS Bibliography (Caqdas Networking Project)

Software

DSchneider found Bhowmick (2006) to be a good overview. This article also addresses challenges to the CAQDAS community, in particular the lack of reasoning ability.

The two most popular data coding / analysis software are:

• ATLAS.ti - The Knowledge Workbench.
• Nvivo (formerly Nudist).

References

• Christine A. Barry (1998) 'Choosing Qualitative Data Analysis Software: Atlas/ti and Nudist Compared' Sociological Research Online, vol. 3, no. 3, HTML.

• Bhowmick, T (2006). Building an Exploratory Visual Analysis Tool for Qualitative Researchers, Autocarto 2006 ,Vancouver, WA PDF

• Bringer, Joy D., Johnston, Lynne Halley, Brackenridge, Celia H. (2006). Using Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software to Develop a Grounded Theory Project Field Methods 2006 18: 245-266 Abstract (PDF (Access restricted)).

• Hypermedia and Ethnography: Reflections on the Construction of a Research Approach, by Bella Dicks and Bruce Mason, Sociological Research Online, vol. 3, no. 3, HTML

• Fielding, Nigel (1993). Analysing qualitative data by computer, Social Research Update, Department of Sociology, University of Surrey HTML