NVivo 7- QUALITATIVE RESEARCH SOFTWARE

Today, 28 February 2008, I attended half day Nvivo 7 Workshop organised by Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, National University of Malaysia (UKM). The workshop has been conducted by Assoc Prof. Dr. Noriah Mohd Ishak from Education Faculty, UKM. I really enjoyed the workshop and I find that NVivo is a powerful tool in allowing us to manage our data and record ideas. NVivo's search and modelling functions are proving to be invaluable in helping me understand the data and the interactions that are occurring. Here are the summaries of the workshop.

Qualitative research is all about exploring issues, understanding phenomena and answering questions. Unlike quantitative research, which uses numbers to arrive at conclusions, qualitative research uses unstructured information – like field notes, interview transcripts and survey responses. If we need to handle very rich text based information, where deep levels of analysis on both small and large volumes of data are required, is our solution. It removes many of the manual tasks associated with analysis, like classifying, sorting and arranging information, so we have more time to explore trends, build and test theories and ultimately arrive at answers to questions.

The software lets us manage, shape and make sense of this information quickly and easily. Qualitative research software helps people to manage, shape and make sense of unstructured information. It doesn't do the thinking for us; it provides a sophisticated workspace that enables us to work through our information. With purpose built tools for classifying, sorting and arranging information, qualitative research software gives us more time to analyze our materials and discover patterns, identify themes, glean insight and develop meaningful conclusions.

SETTING UP OUR PROJECT

With NVivo 7, we can hit the ground running. It's easy to navigate, imports a wide range of data and facilitates teamwork.

The days of double handling are over. Map out our project steps - setting up frameworks to organize our ideas before we have even started. We can create our own documents, and import and export a range of data including Microsoft Word documents.

The new face of research software. NVivo 7 is designed using Microsoft Windows XP guidelines. Its familiar look makes it easy to learn and to teach.

A new standard in security. Our project database and documents are stored together in a single file, reducing the risk of file corruption and allowing your project to be completely portable.

NVivo 7 speaks our language. We can work in a combination of languages in the same project, including character based languages such as Japanese.

Bringing teams together. An inbuilt merge function allows us and our colleagues to work separately on copies of the same project and then merge them together.

WORKING WITH OUR DATA

Working with our data has never been easier or more powerful. NVivo 7 provides tools that allow us to work to far greater depth than we thought possible.

Organizing our data. Highlight key points and assign visual 'codes' to them - allowing us to quickly track them down and collate them later. They're just like markings made with highlighter pens. If we are performing repetitive tasks, NVivo 7 also offers auto-coding options.

Recording our insights. Just like notes scribbled in a margin, NVivo 7 allows us to edit and annotate our documents after they've been imported. We can also create memos to capture more detailed thoughts, and link them to our research documents.

Change the way we view relationships. Our 'relationships' tool allows us to explore and query evidence about relations between items, processes and people

MAKING SENSE OF OUR DATA

NVivo 7's superior querying and graphical tools let us go back and revisit our information, test theories and explore our concepts.

Let our curiosity get the better of us. Use NVivo 7's multiple level 'undo' function to try new ways of working and then retrace our steps back to safe ground. NVivo 7 is the only qualitative research software in the world that offers an undo function.

Question everything. 'Queries' bring us even closer to our data - we can find patterns, pursue hunches and view information in a range of contexts. Designed to mirror commonly used Internet search engines, queries can also be saved and re-run through new data.

A picture paints a thousand words. 'Models' allow us to graphically display new ideas, connections and findings in real time.

"Thank you to Encik Rahim of FSSK and Assoc Prof. Dr. Noriah for the great job. You really assist us to make the workshop is successful. I hope to attend the Nvivo 7 workshop again"