View/Open - ARAN - National University of Ireland, Galway

119
Chapter 3 Research Framework
computer-assisted data analysis software storage packages will be presented next.
This will be followed by a rationale for selecting the NVivo package for this study.
3.9.1.2 Qualitative Computer-Assisted Data Analysis and Storage
Computer software can be used for the storage of both qualitative and quantitative
data. Morrison (1998: 113) stated that “software can be particularly helpful for data
storage, searching and retrieval and certain aspects of concept organisation and
theory testing but it cannot replace those moments of intuition when the relationships
between concepts crystallise in the researcher’s imagination”.
The choice to use or not use computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software
(CAQDAS) is usually based on the size of the study, the funds and time available,
and the inclination and expertise of the researcher (Basit, 2003; Saldana, 2009).
Crowley, Harre, and Tagg (2002) state that many researchers fear that the computer
will lose or alter data and are therefore fearful of using software packages. CAQDAS
does not actually code the data but it sufficiently stores, organises, manages and
reconfigures it (Saldana, 2009). Thus the analysis process is still performed by the
researcher. According to Bazeley (2007: 2), “the use of a computer package is not
intended to supplant time-honoured ways of learning from data but to increase the
effectiveness and efficiency of such learning”.
Many software programmes are available to the qualitative researcher, including
NVivo and Atlas.ti. NVivo was designed by Qualitative Software for Research
international (QSR) to support researchers to manage and query data and to manage
ideas and produce graphical models and reports from the data. Atlas.ti was
developed specifically for grounded theorists to manage, extract, compare, explore,
and reassemble meaningful pieces of data from large amounts of data (Atlas.ti.
User's Manual, 2004).
3.9.1.3 Rationale for use of Nvivo for this study
Lewins and Silver (2004) state that researchers need to reflect on several issues
before deciding which CAQDAS software package to use. These include the kinds
and amount of research that the study is going to generate, the researcher’s preferred
style of working, the theoretical approach to analysis that the research study has