Slides from MS word qualitative data analysis workshops at the University of Manchester's School of Education Postgraduate Conference #RIManc12

1. Working with MS Word: A
qualitative analysis workshop
Using the simple and obvious
Jenna Condie | j.m.condie@salford.ac.uk
@jennacondie

2. http://www.flickr.com/photos/iakoubtchik/7599892178/sizes/m/in/photostream/

3. = Headache
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nathan_y/1243340874/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/liewcf/1401060873/sizes/m/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/napfisk/5020253586/sizes/m/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30591976@N05/3858606395/sizes/m/in/photostream/

4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/libbydorazione/4605646728/sizes/s/in/photostream/

5. MS Word: The Simple and
obvious
• Already familiar with it
• Transcribed data into it
• No import/export issues
• On every computer I work on
• Everyone has it so can share data easily
• Writing up thesis on it

6. PsyPAG 2011

7. http://www.flickr.com/photos/a6u571n/2870888435/sizes/m/in/photostream/
What type of data? What type of analysis?
What brings you here?

8. Well, let’s have a go
Armed with your existing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marfis75/5319264476/sizes/m/in/photostream/
knowledge and skills
on MS word,
try some analysis
on this data…

9. Some features…
• Highlight function to distinguish different
codes/sections using colour.
• Track changes, particularly the comments feature
to include memos, make notes, and record
interpretations.
• Referencing functions such as table of contents,
table of figures, indexes and footnotes to
organise themes or interpretative repertoires
• Bolding and italicising text, using different fonts
and sizes, underlining, line spacing, columns,
numbered lists and bullet points etc…

10. Hints & Tips from Twitter
@amyfielden83: Very obvious one, but using the highlight function in various
colours to distinguish codes!
@amyfielden83: Comment function is great for initial coding, and note taking
on transcripts!
10

11. http://www.flickr.com/photos/24365773@N03/7438452918/sizes/m/in/photostream/
Word before?
Have you had a fight with MS

12. Preparation and transcription
A transcription strategy is a must! Make these
decisions early on so writing up is easier.
Tips
•Start new paragraph for every speaker**
•What font?
•What size?
•Line numbers?
•Line spacing?

13. Creating a coding document**
Click…

14. Data sorted 
The start of your coding document

15. Coding
• Add columns for codes
Also useful to add a
column to number the

16. Coding
Highlight
column,
click on
numbering
some
things
might work
better as
comments
Numbers (track
useful for changes)
linking
excerpts

17. Table of codes (authorities)
• Alphabetical listing
• Shortcut (alt+shift+I)
• Hide codes (ctrl+shift+8)
• Insert table of authorities
Add categories
e.g. Level 1, Level
2, interpretative
repertoires,
canonical
narratives

18. Other referencing functions
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19. Keeping the data whole
• Narrative and discursive approaches
Could use
Highlighting,
table of
font, bold, italics
contents for
etc
sequential list
Track
changes

20. Flickr: osde8info
Easy life!
Skill many
people
already
have
Visual/audio
More
(see Hahn
complex
NVivo8 MS
2008) ATLAS. Excel,
ti Access

21. Some very useful resources
• Hahn, C. (2008) Doing Qualitative Research
Using Your Computer, A practical Guide,
London: Sage
• La Pelle, N. (2004) Simplifying Qualitative Data
Analysis Using General Purpose Software
Tools, Field Methods, 16, p. 85 – 108
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22. Working with MS Word: A
qualitative analysis workshop
Using the simple and obvious
Jenna Condie | j.m.condie@salford.ac.uk
@jennacondie