Kathryn's qualitative software links
This page of links to qualitative software literature and information was completed as part of my course work in September, 1999. My report compared Atlas.ti and NUD*IST from the perspective of a doctoral student in search of help with her data analysis.
General qualitative research sites with links
- Judy Norris's Qual Page
- Judy has maintained and updated this page for many years now, and it is a great starting point for anyone interested in qualitative research.
- Qualitative research methods in education
- Ron Owston's web site for a graduate level course in qualitative research methods in education at York University.
- Qualitative Research in Education Home Page
- This is Jan Armstrong Gamradt's qualitative site for courses she teaches at the University of New Mexico.
- CAQDAS Networking Project
- This is the home page for the British Economic and Social Research Council's qualitative software project. It is not a commercial site and was funded to encourage academic debate on qualitative software issues.
Articles you can read online about using qualitative research software
- Choosing Qualitative Data Analysis Software: Atlas/ti
and Nudist Compared
- This article by Christine Barry compares Atlas.ti and NUD*IST on two dimensions: (1) the structure of the software and how this impacts analysis and (2) the complexity of the research project. It is great to find an author who is willing to assess specific software packages.
- Qualitative Data Analysis: Technologies and Representations
- Coffey, Holbrook and Atkinson write that using qualitative data analysis software is promoting a single approach to data analysis and representation. They view the use of hypertext as an alternative for consideration.
- Qualitative Data Analysis: Representations of a Technology: A Comment on Coffey, Holbrook and Atkinson
- Lee & Fielding write that the Coffey et al. article does not accurately describe the current state of qualitative software use, and the link to grounded theory is over emphasized. Lee & Fielding have written extensively on the subject of qualitative analysis software.
- Theory Building in Qualitative Research and Computer Programs
for the Management of Textual Data
- Kelle also argues that the dangers of using software for qualitative research is given too much importance in the literature.
- Analysing qualitative data by computer: recent developments
- An article by Fielding giving an overview of what's available to the qualitative researcher.
- Qualitative Computing and Qualitative Sociology: the first decade
- Lyn Richards' 1999 article is found at the QSR-NUD*IST web site, and although it is an academic discussion of qualitative software issues, it should be noted that the article supports the recent arrival of the company's latest program -- N-Vivo.
- Using qualitative computer analysis to inform your literature search when the literature is only vaguely relevant - a case study on the training needs of school governors
- This is a how-to article for a specific process using NUD*IST and EndNote to improve the quality of a literature review.
Other sites of interest
- Qualitative Research & Consulting
- Susanne Friese has prepared a very detailed table comparing four major qualitative software packages, including Atlas.ti and NUD*IST. Criteria for assessment are her own.
- GETTING STARTED WITH NUD*IST
- This is an online 5-step tutorial by Bobbi Kerlin; this tutorial is easier to understand than NUD*IST's built-in demo manager.