COMPUTER-ASSISTED QUALITATIVE AND MIXED METHODS DATA ANALYSIS: HARNESSING NVIVO - 2020/1

Module Overview

Qualitative and mixed methods researchers are increasingly making use of advanced computer software packages to enhance the research process and facilitate more in-depth, multi-layered analytic approaches. NVivo is one of the leading Computer Assisted Qualitative Data AnalysiS (CAQDAS) packages designed to facilitate the range of qualitative and mixed-methods analysis. It is widely used to undertake literature reviews, systematise analyses, aid transparency, make projects portable and work in teams. NVivo facilitates the management and analysis of text, spreadsheet, pdf, image, audio and video data, making it a relevant tool for flexible work across disciplines and sectors.

This module provides a comprehensive overview of the role of NVivo in the analytic workflow, it’s architecture and available tools, and instruction in how to harness it powerfully for analytic tasks. This module is framed by the Five-Level QDA® method, a CAQDAS pedagogy designed to enable researchers to develop the expertise they need in NVivo, whatever the research objectives and methodology.

We begin with familiarising with NVivo, by focusing on software components, and the actions that can be taken on them to fulfill analytic tasks. Participants will then plan their analysis and be guided through the process of translating their analytic tasks into software tools. Throughout the course participants will use their own research data, or sample data, and the course tutors will illustrate how to harness NVivo using a range of different types of research projects.

Module provider

Sociology

Module Leader

SILVER Christina (Sociology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Pre-course reading on principles of using NVivo, the basics of qualitative coding, and the CAQDAS pedagogy used in this course (the Five-Level QDA ® method) will be provided. Participants do not need to bring their own laptops, but they can if they wish. The course will run in a Windows computer lab. Should participants wish to work on a Mac, they must bring their own laptop with the latest version of NVivo pre-installed and tested.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Differentiating analytic strategies and software tactics


• NVivo features, components and tools


• Analytic planning in the context of NVivo use


• Setting up an NVivo project to reflect initial analytic design


• Representing conceptual frameworks using maps


• Strategies for using NVivo to undertake a literature review


• Exploring data qualitatively and quantitatively: word frequency, text search and annotations


• Conceptualising qualitative data: coding, memoing, linking


• Organising data to factual characteristics: cases, attributes, sets & search folders


• Identifying patterns, relationships and anomalies using query and visualisation tools


• Representing and reporting on findings

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

A detailed understanding of the role and functioning of NVivo and skills in harnessing its tools for a range of analytic tasks.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• A completed series of Analytic Planning Worksheets (approximately 2,500 words) that detail the objectives, analysis plan and translation of analytic tasks into NVivo tools as the project evolved.


• An NVivo project containing the analysis and a compound memo (approximately 1,500 words) providing a transparent roadmap to the elements of the analysis.

Formative assessment

Participants will complete a series of workshop exercises during days 1-3 of the course and have the opportunity to discuss their work with each other and the tutors. Feedback During day 5 students will present an overview of their progress to date and receive formative feedback from the tutors and other participants

Module aims

• • Provide an understanding of the role of CAQDAS packages in qualitative analysis
• • Illustrate the relationship between analytic strategies – what you plan to do - and software tactics – how you plan to do it
• • Provide confidence in the architecture and functioning of NVivo
• • Enable analytic tasks to be appropriately fulfilled using NVivo in the context of participants’ own research projects

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Provide participants with a thorough understanding of and confidence in harnessing NVivo tools for analytic tasks as a project progresses.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures  


• Demonstrations


• Hands-on workshops


• Small group work


• Independent study


• Group discussion and feedback


• Use of worksheets designed to translate analytic tasks into NVivo tools

This module is taught intensively over one-week. Days 1-3 combine lectures, demonstrations and hands-on practical sessions on harnessing NVivo for qualitative and mixed methods analysis. Day 4 is devoted to independent study. On day 5 students will have the opportunity to receive formative feedback on their initial assignment plans and peer feedback during group discussions. Students will then complete their practical assignment using sample data provided.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: SOCM056

Other information

Module did not end up offered in 2021/2 - at April 2021 EBoS the Learning Hours approved were Lecture 10, Workshop 10, Independent Learning 110, Guided Learning 10, Captured Content 10.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.