Software Tools for Qualitative Research In RSCH 8301, you used NVivo software to assist with organizing and coding data you collected. However, you may be wondering if that is the only software package available to qualitative researchers and whether you even need to use a software package for your Dissertation. Consider the Discussion topic for this week on organizing and tracking data as well as the Dissertation Rubric criteria on these topics. To prepare for this Application: Review this week's required readings about computer programs available for qualitative research. Investigate software packages other than NVivo that are available to qualitative researchers. Select at least two software packages and compare them to NVivo. Do you believe you will need to use a software package for your dissertation? If so, would any of the three software tools you investigated for this assignment be appropriate? Why? The assignment: QUESTION: Craft a 3- to 4-page paper in which you do the following: o Compare and contrast software tools for managing and analyzing qualitative data. o Conclude by stating whether you believe you will need to use a software package for your dissertation and, if so, whether any of the three software tools analyzed in this assignment would be appropriate. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Managing and Organizing Data Introduction Qualitative research almost always generates mountains of data. Unlike quantiative research, which is generally numerical, qualitative data can be more difficult to manage considering the various forms that it can take, including transcripts, audio and video interview, and even visual types of data such as drawings and photographs. The key to a successful qualitative study is the management and organization of all these types of data. Think of the carpenter discussed last week: How effective would a carpenter be with a disorganized toolbox? This week, you will develop a plan for managing and organizing this data in such a way that you can find the data that you need efficiently. Learning Outcomes By the end of this week, you will be able to: Recommend strategies for organizing and documenting the research process and tracking qualitative research data Compare and contrast software tools for managing and analyzing qualitative data _____________________________________________________________________________________ Required Resources Course Text: Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook o Chapter 2, "Research and Design Management," pp. 4552 o Chapter 6, "Methods of Exploring," pp. 124-128 o Appendix, "An Annotated Bibliography of Qualitative Research Resources" In Chapter 2, read the sections on "Management Issues Bearing on Analysis," "Computer Use," "Data Management," and "Staffing and Time Planning." In the excerpt from Chapter 6, you will learn about the early steps in data analysis, including the completion of a contact summary sheet, with an example provided. The Appendix gives information about the types of computer programs you might use for qualitative data analysis. Course Text: Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches o Review from last week: Chapter 7, "Data Collection" o Chapter 8, "Data Analysis and Representation," pp. 164173 Chapter 7 explores the key concepts of the data collection process, including the data collection circle, access and rapport, sampling strategy, forms of data, recording procedures, field issues, and storing data. This reading is a review from Week 6. The excerpt from Chapter 8 provides a comparison of the five approaches and describes computer use in qualitative data analysis. Course Text: "Stretching" Exercises for Qualitative Researchers o Appendix I: Electronic Resources This appendix includes LISTSERVs, websites, journals, and software packages related to qualitative research. Research Toolkit Handouts o Walden Dissertation Rubric Available from http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/ The Dissertation Rubric is a Word document linked in the section for PhD Dissertation Process and Documents. o Walden Qualitative Dissertations This document directs you to dissertations in the Walden Library that use a variety of qualitative approaches and disciplines.

Software Tools for Qualitative Research In RSCH 8301, you used NVivo software to assist with organizing and coding data you collected. However, you may be wondering if that is the only software package available to qualitative researchers and whether you even need to use a software package for your Dissertation. Consider the Discussion topic for this week on organizing and tracking data as well as the Dissertation Rubric criteria on these topics. To prepare for this Application: Review this week's required readings about computer programs available for qualitative research. Investigate software packages other than NVivo that are available to qualitative researchers. Select at least two software packages and compare them to NVivo. Do you believe you will need to use a software package for your dissertation? If so, would any of the three software tools you investigated for this assignment be appropriate? Why? The assignment: QUESTION: Craft a 3- to 4-page paper in which you do the following: o Compare and contrast software tools for managing and analyzing qualitative data. o Conclude by stating whether you believe you will need to use a software package for your dissertation and, if so, whether any of the three software tools analyzed in this assignment would be appropriate. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Managing and Organizing Data Introduction Qualitative research almost always generates mountains of data. Unlike quantiative research, which is generally numerical, qualitative data can be more difficult to manage considering the various forms that it can take, including transcripts, audio and video interview, and even visual types of data such as drawings and photographs. The key to a successful qualitative study is the management and organization of all these types of data. Think of the carpenter discussed last week: How effective would a carpenter be with a disorganized toolbox? This week, you will develop a plan for managing and organizing this data in such a way that you can find the data that you need efficiently. Learning Outcomes By the end of this week, you will be able to: Recommend strategies for organizing and documenting the research process and tracking qualitative research data Compare and contrast software tools for managing and analyzing qualitative data _____________________________________________________________________________________ Required Resources Course Text: Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook o Chapter 2, "Research and Design Management," pp. 4552 o Chapter 6, "Methods of Exploring," pp. 124-128 o Appendix, "An Annotated Bibliography of Qualitative Research Resources" In Chapter 2, read the sections on "Management Issues Bearing on Analysis," "Computer Use," "Data Management," and "Staffing and Time Planning." In the excerpt from Chapter 6, you will learn about the early steps in data analysis, including the completion of a contact summary sheet, with an example provided. The Appendix gives information about the types of computer programs you might use for qualitative data analysis. Course Text: Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches o Review from last week: Chapter 7, "Data Collection" o Chapter 8, "Data Analysis and Representation," pp. 164173 Chapter 7 explores the key concepts of the data collection process, including the data collection circle, access and rapport, sampling strategy, forms of data, recording procedures, field issues, and storing data. This reading is a review from Week 6. The excerpt from Chapter 8 provides a comparison of the five approaches and describes computer use in qualitative data analysis. Course Text: "Stretching" Exercises for Qualitative Researchers o Appendix I: Electronic Resources This appendix includes LISTSERVs, websites, journals, and software packages related to qualitative research. Research Toolkit Handouts o Walden Dissertation Rubric Available from http://researchcenter.waldenu.edu/ The Dissertation Rubric is a Word document linked in the section for PhD Dissertation Process and Documents. o Walden Qualitative Dissertations This document directs you to dissertations in the Walden Library that use a variety of qualitative approaches and disciplines.