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Analysing Survey Data : handling open-ended questions (OEQ's) using CAQDAS

As part of the QUIC project we are looking at ways in which CAQDAS packages support mixed methods by integrating qualitative and quantitative data in various ways. These pages provide support materials arising from our work concerning the use of selected CAQDAS packages to conduct secondary analysis of qualitative data on the social factors in response to natural environmental risk arising from climate change. The material here is therefore not necessarily relevant to the preparation or analysis of other types of qualitative data.

Outline of architecture and teminology for each package Summary of strengths and weaknesses of each package in the context of analysing open-ended questions Description of flood event survey data used in examples Document per case vs Document per question Selection of variables/attributes to use in CAQDAS Checking coding Data preparation instructions for ATLAS.ti 6 Data preparation instructions for MAXqda 2007 Data preparation instructions for NVivo 8 Data preparation instructions for QDA Miner 3.2 Qualitative analysis strategies for ATLAS.ti 6 Qualitative analysis strategies for MAXqda 2007 Qualitative analysis strategies for NVivo 8 Qualitative analysis strategies for QDA Miner 3.2 Quantitative analysis strategies for ATLAS.ti 6 Quantitative analysis strategies for MAXqda 2007 Quantitative analysis strategies for NVivo 8 Quantitative analysis strategies for QDA Miner 3.2 Export data to statistical packages for ATLAS.ti 6 Export data to statistical packages for MAXqda 2007 Export data to statistical packages for NVivo 8 Export data to statistical packages for QDA Miner 3.2 Atlas.ti 6 (pdf) MAXqda 2007 (pdf) NVivo 8 (pdf) QDA Miner 3.2 (pdf)

These materials are presented as individual webpages accessible from this page. The diagram above illustrates how they fit together as a resource. If you are already using one of the four packages discussed here you can choose to go to the relevant pdf describing all the processes for that package.

You can access material in several ways:
a) by clicking on the relevant potions of the diagram above;
b) by clicking on the relevant links in the descriptive list of content below;
c) by downloading pdf files accessible from the Working Papers page.

List of content found on these pages

i) Description of Flood Event Survey data used in examples : a description of the survey data originally collected;

ii) "Document per Case" vs "Document per Question" : a discussion on whether to structure open-ended survey data by creating a 'document per case or a document per question' for analysis in CAQDAS packages;

iii) Selection of variables/attributes to use in CAQDAS : a discussion on selecting appropriate quantitative variables from survey for use in analysing open-ended questions in CAQDAS packages;

iv) Checking Coding : a discussion on why it may be very important to re-check your coding work.

v) Outline of architecture and terminology for each package : an outline of software architecture and terminology as relevant to the analysis of open-ended questions from surveys;

vi) Summary of strengths and weaknesses of each package in the context of analysing open-ended questions : a summary comparison of ATLAS.ti, MAXQDA, NVivo and QDA Miner in the context of the analysis of open-ended questions from surveys;

vii) Data preparation instructions for open-ended survey questions for each CAQDAS package : 
ATLAS.ti, MAXQDA, NVivo, QDA Miner

viii) Discussion of qualitative analysis strategies in the context of each CAQDAS package :
ATLAS.ti, MAXQDA, NVivo, QDA Miner

ix) Discussion of quantitative analysis strategies in the context of each CAQDAS package :
ATLAS.ti, MAXQDA, NVivo, QDA Miner

x) Information on exporting data from each CAQDAS package to SPSS or MS Excel for subsequent statistical manipulation : 
ATLAS.ti, MAXQDA, NVivo, QDA Miner

xi) pdf version of full guidance for analysing OEQ's using: ATLAS.ti, MAXQDA, NVivo, QDA Miner.  Also available from Working Papers.