computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software
Computer-assisted (or aided) qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) offers tools that assist with qualitative research such as transcription analysis, coding and text interpretation, recursive abstraction, content analysis, discourse analysis,{{Cite journal|last1=Paulus|first1=Trena M.|last2=Lester|first2=Jessica Nina|title=ATLAS.ti for conversation and discourse analysis studies|journal=International Journal of Social Research Methodology|language=en|volume=19|issue=4|pages=405–428|doi=10.1080/13645579.2015.1021949|year=2016|s2cid=144482072}} grounded theory methodology, etc.
Definition
CAQDAS is used in psychology, marketing research, ethnography, public health and other social sciences. The CAQDAS networking project lists the following tools a CAQDAS{{Cite web |title=CAQDAS networking project {{!}} University of Surrey |url=https://www.surrey.ac.uk/computer-assisted-qualitative-data-analysis |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=www.surrey.ac.uk}} program should have:
- Content searching tools
- Code grouping tools{{Cite web |title=Analytic tasks and CAQDAS tools {{!}} University of Surrey |url=https://www.surrey.ac.uk/computer-assisted-qualitative-data-analysis/resources/analytic-tasks-and-caqdas-tools |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=www.surrey.ac.uk}}
- Linking tools
- Mapping or networking tools
- Query tools
- Alternative visual representation tools
- Writing and annotation tools
Comparison of CAQDAS software
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Application !Type !License !Source !Last Release !Analyses !OS Supported !Tools |
| ---
|Client |{{yes|Free – GPL}} |{{Yes|Open}} |2017-02 |Text, Audio, Video, Graphics |Windows |Coding, Sequence Analysis, Exploratory Data Analysis |
| ---
|Client |{{no|Proprietary}} |{{No|Closed}} |Text, Audio, Video, Graphic, Social Networks |Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Cloud (web-based) |Coding, Aggregation, Query, Visualisation |
| ---
|Web-based/server |{{yes|Free – GPL}} |{{Yes|Open}} | 2018-10-09 |Text |All (java-based) |Coding |
| ---
|CLAN |Client |{{yes|Free – GPL}} |{{yes|Open}} |2019-06-10 |Text |Windows, macOS, Linux |Coding |
| ---
|Coding Analysis Toolkit (CAT) |Web-based |{{yes|Free – GPL}} |{{yes|Open}} |Text |All (web browser) |Coding |
| ---
|Client |{{yes|Free – LGPL}} |{{yes|Open}} |2014-02 |Text |All (java-based) |Coding |
| ---
|Web-based |{{no|Proprietary}} |{{No|Closed}} |2024-10-14 |Text, Audio, Video |All (web browser) |Coding, Query, Visualisation |
| ---
|Web-based |{{no|Proprietary}} |{{No|Closed}} |Text, Audio, Video |All (web browser) |Coding, Query, Visualisation, Statistical Tools |
| ---
|ELAN |Client |{{yes|Free – GPL}} |{{yes|Open}} |Audio, Video |Windows, macOS, Linux |Coding |
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|Client |{{yes|Free – GPL}} |{{Yes|Open}} |Text |Windows, macOS, Linux | |
| ---
|Client |{{no|Proprietary}} |{{No|Closed}} |2019-02-05 |Text, audio, video, pictures, webpages, social networks |Windows, macOS |Coding, Aggregation, Query, Visualisation, Statistical Tools |
| ---
|Client |{{no|Proprietary}} |{{No|Closed}} |Text, audio, video, pictures, webpages |Windows, macOS |Coding, Aggregation, Query, Visualisation |
| ---
|Client |{{yes|Free-GPL}} |{{yes|Open}} |2015-06 |Text |Windows |Coding, Aggregation, Query |
| ---
|Web-based |{{no|Proprietary}} |{{No|Closed}} |2024-04-05 |Text, PDF |All |Coding |
| ---
|Client |{{no|Proprietary}} |{{No|Closed}} |2016-11 | |Windows | |
| ---
|Client |{{no|Proprietary}} |{{No|Closed}} |2017-01-12 |Text |Windows |Coding |
| ---
|Client |{{no|Proprietary}} |{{No|Closed}} |2016-09 | |Windows, Android | |
| ---
|Client |{{yes|Free – MIT License}} |{{Yes|Open}} |2023-01-19{{cite web|title=QualCoder GitHub website|website=GitHub|date=January 2023 |url=https://github.com/ccbogel/QualCoder/releases|accessdate=13 June 2023}} |Text, audio, video, pictures |Windows, macOS, Linux |Coding, Query, Visualization, Analysis |
| ---
|Quantitative Discourse Analysis Package (qdap) (R package) |Client |{{yes|Free – GPL}} |{{Yes|Open}} |2019-01-02{{cite web|title=qdap GitHub website|website=GitHub|url=https://github.com/trinker/qdap|accessdate=18 February 2017}} |Text |Windows, macOS, Linux |Word extracting, statistical analysis, visualization |
| ---
|Client / Web-based |{{no|Proprietary}} |{{No|Closed}} |Text |Windows, macOS, Linux,{{cite web|title=Quirkos for Linux|date=27 August 2015|url=https://www.quirkos.com/blog/post/quirkos-for-linux|accessdate=11 September 2015}} All (web browser) |Coding, Query, Visualisation |
| ---
|Client / Web-based |{{yes|Free – MIT License}} |{{Yes|Open}} |2025-03{{cite web | url=https://github.com/RE-QDA/requal | title=RE-QDA/Requal | website=GitHub }} |Text |All (web browser) |Coding, Intercoder Agreement, Log |
| ---
|Client |{{yes|Free – GPL}} |{{Yes|Open}} |Text |Windows, macOS, Linux |Coding, Aggregation, Query, Visualisation |
| ---
|Client / Web-based |{{yes|Free}} |{{yes|Open}} |Text |Windows, macOS |Coding |
| ---
|Client |{{no|Proprietary, used to be GPL}}{{cite web|title=Transana website|url=http://www.transana.org/developers/opensource.htm|accessdate=2 February 2016}} |{{no|Closed}} |Text, Audio, Video |Windows, macOS |Coding |
| ---
|Client |{{no|Proprietary}} |{{No|Closed}} |2006 (abandoned) | |Windows | |
Project Exchange Format
In 2019, the Rotterdam Exchange Format Initiative (REFI) launched a new open exchange standard for qualitative data called QDA-XML,{{Cite journal |last=Evers |first=Jeanine |date=May 2020 |title=What is the REFI-QDA Standard: Experimenting With the Transfer of Analyzed Research Projects Between QDA Software |url=https://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/download/3439/4598?inline=1 |journal=Forum: Qualitative Social Research |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=22}} however, the Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis (CAQDAS) Network Project had been formally established in 1994. The aim is to allow users to bring coded qualitative data from one software package to another. Support was initially adopted by Atlas.ti, QDA Miner, Quirkos and Transana, and has since been implemented into Dedoose, MAXQDA, NVivo and more.{{Cite web |title=Choosing a CAQDAS package {{!}} University of Surrey |url=https://www.surrey.ac.uk/computer-assisted-qualitative-data-analysis/resources/choosing-appropriate-caqdas-package |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=www.surrey.ac.uk}} Although this was not the first standard to be proposed, it was the first to be implemented by more than one software package, and came as the result of a collaboration between vendors and community representatives from the research community. Previously there was very little capability to bring data in from other software packages.
Training
The CAQDAS Network Project hosts events on the use of CAQDAS packages for qualitative and mixed-methods analysis. They include:
- fee-based in-person short courses
- open-registration Webinars designed to raise awareness
- open-registration Webinars that are methodological or pedagogical in nature
- podcasts
Pros and cons
Such software helps to organize, manage and analyse information.{{cite journal|last=Banner|first=DJ|author2=Albarrran, JW|title=Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software: a review.|journal=Canadian Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing|year=2009|volume=19|issue=3|pages=24–31|pmid=19694114}} The advantages of using this software include saving time, managing huge amounts of qualitative data, having increased flexibility, having improved validity and auditability of qualitative research, and being freed from manual and clerical tasks. Concerns include increasingly deterministic and rigid processes, privileging of coding, and retrieval methods; reification of data, increased pressure on researchers to focus on volume and breadth rather than on depth and meaning, time and energy spent learning to use computer packages, increased commercialism, and distraction from the real work of analysis.{{cite journal|last=St John|first=W|author2=Johnson, P|title=The pros and cons of data analysis software for qualitative research.|journal=Journal of Nursing Scholarship|year=2000|volume=32|issue=4|pages=393–7|doi=10.1111/j.1547-5069.2000.00393.x|pmid=11140204}}
See also
References
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-External links
- [https://www.surrey.ac.uk/computer-assisted-qualitative-data-analysis The CAQDAS networking project] maintained by the University of Surrey offers advice and reviews on various software packages.
- [http://www.textanalysis.info/ Harald Klein's comprehensive guide to CAQDAS]
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