Assignment: Qualitative-Data Analysis Software

Assignment: Qualitative-Data Analysis Software

Assignment: Qualitative-Data Analysis Software

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It is not uncommon for qualitative researchers to spend the first phase of analysis hand-coding, text coding, or spreadsheet coding before turning to qualitative data analysis (QDA) software. Modern software packages offer efficient ways to organize and code data electronically, and to visualize the patterns in codes and categories. Of course, no software package takes the place of immersion in the data and the intensive effortful work needed to illuminate the essence of the phenomenon as your participants describe it.

In this week’s Assignment, you will research QDA software and compare what you have experienced using Excel or Word to what the software offers.

Develop a 3- to 5-page paper describing considerations for choosing to use QDA software. Include your responses to the following:

Hands-on: Summarize your experience with coding using Excel or Word. Identify what worked well, where you struggled, and how the process of coding evolved.
Research: Summarize your research on your two choices by comparing and contrasting features. Describe why you chose these two versus the others and, given your experience in this course, what you are considering for your capstone.
FYI, i coded both my interviews by hand, no software, so go with whatever works for the flow of the paper. Basically anything you find on software will be better and probably less time consuming than using word and excel

LaPelle, N. R. (2004). Simplifying qualitative data analysis using general purpose software tools. Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, 16(1), 1–20. doi:10.1177/1525822X03259227
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Meyer, D. Z., & Avery L. M. (2009). Excel as a qualitative data analysis tool. Field Methods, 21(1), 91–112. doi:10.1177/1525822X08323985
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Smith, J. & Firth, J. (2011). Qualitative data analysis: The framework approach. Nurse Researcher, 18(2), 52-62.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

You must proofread your paper. But do not strictly rely on your computer’s spell-checker and grammar-checker; failure to do so indicates a lack of effort on your part and you can expect your grade to suffer accordingly. Papers with numerous misspelled words and grammatical mistakes will be penalized. Read over your paper – in silence and then aloud – before handing it in and make corrections as necessary. Often it is advantageous to have a friend proofread your paper for obvious errors. Handwritten corrections are preferable to uncorrected mistakes.

Use a standard 10 to 12 point (10 to 12 characters per inch) typeface. Smaller or compressed type and papers with small margins or single-spacing are hard to read. It is better to let your essay run over the recommended number of pages than to try to compress it into fewer pages.

Likewise, large type, large margins, large indentations, triple-spacing, increased leading (space between lines), increased kerning (space between letters), and any other such attempts at “padding” to increase the length of a paper are unacceptable, wasteful of trees, and will not fool your professor.

The paper must be neatly formatted, double-spaced with a one-inch margin on the top, bottom, and sides of each page. When submitting hard copy, be sure to use white paper and print out using dark ink. If it is hard to read your essay, it will also be hard to follow your argument.

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