Using software in qualitative research :a step-by-step guide / Ann Lewins and Christina Silver.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [281]-283) and index.

Processes and Tasks in Using Qualitative Software
Types of software supporting work with qualitative data
What types of software do we categorize as CAQDAS?
Which is the 'best' CAQDAS package?
Basic functionality and aspects of work in CAQDAS: key similarities
Structure of work in CAQDAS packages
Data types and format
'Closeness to data' and interactivity
Exploring data
Code and retrieve functionality
Coding schema
Data organization
Searching and interrogating the database
Writing tools
Output
Making software work for your project
Starting points
Familiarization . ,
What the software project represents
CAQDAS packages as project management tools
The right tools for the job
Flexibility in the sequencing of tasks
The bits in between
Teamwork
2 Data and Their Preparation for CAQDAS Packages
Types of qualitative data
Incorporating different types of data into the software project
Incorporating different types of data into the Young People's
Perceptions Project
Textual data preparation considerations
General guidelines for transcribing data
Transcription formats
Using rich text features to indicate important aspects of the data
Formatting structured data
Recognizable units of context: sentences, paragraphs and sections
Speaker and topic identifiers
What to avoid when transcribing identifiers
Naming and saving data files
Software-specific textual data preparations
Preparing textual data for ATLAS.ti5
Preparing textual data for MAXqda2
Preparing textual data for NVivo?
Summary: data preparation issues
Comparative comments on data and their preparation for CAQDAS packages
3 Getting Started in Quaiitative Software: Practical Tasks
Generic tasks: what can be done before primary data are ready?
Task 3.1 creating and naming the project, data files and reports
Task 3.2 familiarize yourself with the software
Task 3.3 memoing
Task 3.4 code creation
Task 3.5 experimenting with importing/assigning data
Task 3.6 experiment with data
Task 3.7 experiment with mapping tools
Task 3.8 use or throw away
Software-specific variations: getting started with software
Exercises in ATLAS.li5
Exercises in MAXqda2
Exercises in NVivo?
Summary: reviewing the process of familiarization
Comparative comments on getting started with the software
4 Exploration and Text-Level Work
Early exploration of text
Technological developments and methodological debates
Annotation tools: their universal utility
Note taking for continuity, neutrality, reflexivity and openness
Text search tools: their universal utility
The place of content-based searching tools
Hyperlinking
Generic tasks: exploring data and working at the text level in software
Thsk 4.1 Using cosmetic text marking and functional text marking
Task 4.2 Annotating text
Thsk 4.3 Frequency counts, text searching for words or phrases
Task 4.4 Hyperlinking between points in the text
Software-specific variations: exploring data and working at the text level
Exercises in ATLAS.tiS
Exercises in MAXqda2
Exercises in N>^vo7
Summary: early exploration of data
Comparative comments on exploring data
5 Qualitative Coding in Software: Principles and Processes
What is qualitative coding?
How coding works in qualitative software
Approaches to coding
Generating and using codes
Inductive approaches to coding
Deductive approaches to coding
Combining approaches: the practice of coding using software
Summary: using software to support your approach to coding
6 Coding Schemes, Coding Frames
Breaking down the data, putting them back together
Structures of coding schemes in software
Hierarchical systems
The functioning of hierarchies in software
Non-hierarchical systems
What arc the benefits and disadvantages of different structures?
Factors which influence approaches to the development of coding schemes
Is 'coding scheme' the same as 'theoretical framework*?
Drilling down, or building up?
Seeing beyond the coding scheme: grouping and combining codes
Coding scheme predicaments
Working top-down, feeling stuck between tramlines?
The 'large* coding scheme: moving on, refining?
Coding scheme structures in CAQDAS packages: project examples
Speller (2000): 'The relocation of Arkwright*
Rich et al. (2006): *Video intervention/prevention assessment (VIA)'
Taggart et al. (2004): 'Curriculum progression in the arts*
Silver (2002): 'Young People's Perceptions Project'
Lewins (2000): 'Older people's needs assessment exercise: focus groups'
Gulati (2006): 'Understanding knowledge construction in online courses'
Summary: making the most of a coding scheme
Comparative comments on coding schemata in CAQDAS packages
7 Coding Tasks in Software
Generic tasks: generating and applying codes
Task 7.1 Generating codes
Task 7.2 Applying existing codes to text
Task 7.3 Defining and listing codes
Task 7.4 Changing your mind about how data are coded
Task 7.S Reorganizing the coding schema
Integrating the different aspects of your work
Software-specific variations: coding processes in software
Exercises in ATLAS.tiS
Exercises in MAXqda2
Exercises in NVivo7
Summary: getting started with coding in software
Comparative comments on coding functionality and processes
8 Basic Retrieval of Coded Data
Purposes and values of basic retrieval
Where did I get to last time?
Reflexivity and rigour
Generic tasks: retrieving coded data
Task 8.1 Retrieve all data coded so far
Task 8.2 View all codes appearing in one document
Task 8.3 Recode data
Task 8.4 Overview current coding status
Software-specific variations: data retrieval
Exercises in ATLAS.tiS
Exercises in MAXqda2
Exercises in NVivo7
Summary: basic ways to retrieve coded data
Comparative comments on retrieval functionality and processes
9 Managing Processes and Interpretations by Writing
Hie importance of writing in conducting qualitative data analysis
Writing as a continuous analytic process
Forms and purposes of writing
Field notes
Research journal(s)
Analytic or theoretical memos
The potential value of software writing tools
Generic tasks for using memos
Managing your memo system
Creating memos
Free-standing centralized memos
Naming and dating memos
Grouping memos
Structuring memos
Integrating your writing with the rest of your project
Linking memos to documents
Linking memos to codes
Coding your own writing
Search the content of a memo
Outputting memos
Software-specific memo functionality
Memos in ATLAS.ti5
Memos in MAXqda2
Memos in NVivo?
Summary: flexible writing in software
Comparative comments on memo functionality
10 Mapping Ideas and Linking Concepts
Theoretical models
Adaptive theory and the modelling process
Grounded theory and the mapping process
Mapping tools: relevant traditions
Mapping software packages
Mapping in CAQDAS packages: general purposes
Limits of CAQDAS mapping tools
Possibilities with CAQDAS mapping tools
Cautions
Generic tasks: mapping and linking
Software-specific mapping tools
The networking tool in ATLAS.ti5
The mapping tool in MAXqda2
The modeller in NVivo?
Summary: mapping functionality
Comparative comments on mapping functionality
11 Organizing Data to Known Characteristics
The importance of organizing qualitative data
Features in data which can be organized
Organizing qualitative data in CAQDAS packages
Document families' and ^attributes*
Differentiating between organizational features and ^conceptual* codes
Working incrementally
Organizing whole data files
Organizing parts of data files
Organizing case studies
Software-specific variations: data organization
Exercises in ATLAS.tiS
Exercises in MAXqda2
Exercises in NVivo7
Summary: data organization functionality
Comparative comments on data organization
12 Interrogating the Dataset
Moving on
Different ways to interrogate the database
Filtering and simple forms of retrieval
Searching for content
Code searches as iterative, incremental and repeatable
Qualitative cross-tabulations in the form of tables and matrices
Interrogating in maps
Changing techniques of qualitative data analysis
Cautions
Generic tasks: searching
Searching for content
Code searching
Generating tabular data
Creating signposts from searches
Software-specific searching functions
Searching and interrogation tools in ATLA3-ti5
Searching and interrogation tools in MAXqda2
Searching and interrogation tools in NVivo7
Summary: reviewing searching and interrogation functionality
Comparative comments on searching and interrogating the dataset
13 Convergence, Closeness, Choice
Planning for the use of software
Convergence of tasks and tools: software as a container for your work
Closeness to data: inside software and outside it
Working within your comfort zone: focused effective use of software