CAQDASCAQDAS Computer Assisted QualitativeComputer Assisted Qualitative

Data Analysis Software Data Analysis Software

G. Andrew PageG. Andrew PageUniversity of Alaska AnchorageUniversity of Alaska Anchorage

The ProblemThe Problem

Stress from Stress from data analysisdata analysis

What is What is CAQDASCAQDAS? ? (pronounced “(pronounced “cactuscactus”)”)

CAQDAS searches, organizes, categorizes, and CAQDAS searches, organizes, categorizes, and annotates textual and visual data. Programs of this annotates textual and visual data. Programs of this type usually support theory-building through the type usually support theory-building through the visualization of relationships between data and/or visualization of relationships between data and/or theoretical constructs. theoretical constructs.

What will CAQDAS do?What will CAQDAS do?

Organize — Organize — Better organization correlates to better analysisBetter organization correlates to better analysis

Boolean Searches Boolean Searches Generation of code bookGeneration of code book Text mining Text mining Lemmatization text analysisLemmatization text analysis

Flexibility – Flexibility – greater ease an maneuverability of the data, greater ease an maneuverability of the data,

The ApproachThe Approach

CAQDAS can assist in the tasks of coding CAQDAS can assist in the tasks of coding indexing, sorting, retrieving and manipulating indexing, sorting, retrieving and manipulating data. Miles and Huberman (1994), for data. Miles and Huberman (1994), for example, see data analysis as involving data example, see data analysis as involving data reduction, data display, and drawing reduction, data display, and drawing conclusions - a process parallel to quantitative conclusions - a process parallel to quantitative analysis. analysis.

Platform, URL’s & DemosPlatform, URL’s & Demos

ATLAS/ATLAS/titi (dos) = (dos) = DemoDemo

HyperRESEARCHHyperRESEARCH = Demo = Demo

QSR NUD*IST QSR NUD*IST = Demo = Demo

Max QDA = Demo 21-day full versionMax QDA = Demo 21-day full version

AnSWR = Open Source software for PC: AnSWR = Open Source software for PC:

IDEA Notes: Free! IDEA Notes: Free!

CodingCoding

The key question is always, ‘What is this The key question is always, ‘What is this piece of data an example of?’ Open coding piece of data an example of?’ Open coding is putting labels or codes on pieces of data.is putting labels or codes on pieces of data.

There is no There is no a prioria priori coding scheme that is coding scheme that is

imposed: the codes emerge from, are imposed: the codes emerge from, are generated by, the data;generated by, the data;

MaxQDA ExamplesMaxQDA Examples

Axial CodingAxial Coding

Finding relationships between the categories. Finding relationships between the categories. This is ‘axial’ or ‘theoretical’ coding.This is ‘axial’ or ‘theoretical’ coding.

'Axial' denotes the idea of putting an axis through 'Axial' denotes the idea of putting an axis through the data to form the connections.the data to form the connections.

There are many ways in which these can occur; There are many ways in which these can occur; Quantitative variables, e.g. frequency.Quantitative variables, e.g. frequency. The output is a series of propositions…the basis The output is a series of propositions…the basis

of the theoryof the theory

Axial ExampleAxial Example

Selective CodingSelective Coding

Account for the relationships at a higher Account for the relationships at a higher level of abstraction. This is ‘selective’ coding level of abstraction. This is ‘selective’ coding in which 'core' categories are selected. in which 'core' categories are selected.

These are the central phenomena about These are the central phenomena about which the categories are integrated.which the categories are integrated.

Code SystemCode System

Frequency of CodesFrequency of Codes

Memo ManagerMemo Manager

Overview of Overview of Coded SegmentsCoded Segments

Boolean SearchBoolean Search

In conclusion…In conclusion…

CAQDAS won’t do the analysis for you but it will CAQDAS won’t do the analysis for you but it will help increase your organization of data.help increase your organization of data.

CAQDAS has the ability to maneuver data so that CAQDAS has the ability to maneuver data so that you can view it from different approaches.you can view it from different approaches.

Weigh the learning curve of the program and Weigh the learning curve of the program and compare it to analyzing data with colored pens, compare it to analyzing data with colored pens, scissors, and the “old-fashioned way of scissors, and the “old-fashioned way of deciphering data deciphering data

If this fails….see next screen.If this fails….see next screen.

Stress ReduxStress Redux

It’s “W” timeIt’s “W” timeYou never know what will happen You never know what will happen

when conducting research!when conducting research!

Below: Air Force One and Pres. George W. Bush, April 2, 2004 in the Below: Air Force One and Pres. George W. Bush, April 2, 2004 in the county where I was conducting my dissertation research.county where I was conducting my dissertation research.