Computer Assisted/Aided Qualitative Data AnalysiS (CAQDAS) offers tools that assist with qualitative research such as transcription analysis, coding and text interpretation, recursive abstraction, content analysis, discourse analysis, 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 program should have:
- Content searching tools
- Coding tools
- Linking tools
- Mapping or networking tools
- Query tools
- Writing and annotation tools
Comparison of CAQDAS software
Pros and cons
Such software helps to organize, manage and analyse information. 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.
See also
- Comparison of survey software
- Idea networking
- Multimethodology
- Computer Assisted Mixed Methods Research Analysis Software
- Qualitative economics
- Qualitative marketing research
- Qualitative psychological research
- Quantitative research
- Sampling (case studies)
- Sensemaking
References
External links
- The CAQDAS Networking Project maintained by University of Surrey offers advice and reviews on various software packages.
- Harald Klein's comprehensive guide to CAQDAS
