The document provides an overview of a one day workshop on qualitative data analysis using Atlas.ti 7. It discusses why qualitative research is useful, what Atlas.ti is and how it can help with analyzing qualitative data. The workshop covers topics such as setting up a project in Atlas.ti, importing different types of primary documents, organizing codes and families, creating codes and quotations, memo writing, network views and creating outputs. Attendees will learn practical skills for working with Atlas.ti to systematically analyze qualitative data.

1. One day workshop about
Qualitative Data Analysis
Using Atlas.ti 7
Prepared by
Seyed Abdorreza Payambarpour
Email: payambarpour@aol.com
University Technology Malaysia (UTM)

2. Why do Qualitative research?
Qualitative research methods are designed to help researchers understand:
• people and what they say and do.
• The social and cultural contexts within which people live.
BENEFIT
It allows a researchers to See and Understand the Context within which
decisions and actions take place.
Qualitative researchers argue that if you want to understand people’s
motivations, their reasons, their actions, and the context for their beliefs and
actions in an in-depth way, qualitative research is best (Michael D. Myers,
2009).

3. Qualitative Vs. Quantitative
Qualitative research
“A focus on Text”
Action research
Case study research
Laboratory experiments
Ethnography
Simulation
Mathematical modeling
Semiotics
Analyzing
Data
Surveys
Grounded theory
Research
Methods
Quantitative research
“A focus on numbers”
SEM (CB or PLS)
Discourse analysis
Statistical analysis
Hermeneutics
Econometrics
Narrative and metaphor
Source: Michael D. Myers, 2009

4. What is Atlas.ti?
Atlas.ti is a computer program used mostly, but not exclusively, in qualitative
research or qualitative data analysis.
• The purpose of ATLAS.ti is to help researchers uncover and
systematically analyze complex phenomena hidden in unstructured data
(text, multimedia, geospatial).
• The program provides tools that let the user locate, code, and annotate
findings in primary data material, to weigh and evaluate their importance,
and to visualize the often complex relations between them.
• ATLAS.ti consolidates large volumes of documents and keeps track of all
notes, annotations, codes and memos in all fields that require close study
and analysis of primary material consisting of text, images, audio, video,
and geo data.
Download the latest version of software through:
http://payambarpour.wordpress.com/2013/09/14/what-is-atlas-ti-7-andhow-to-reach-it/

5. Central Concept
 Hermeneutic Unit (HU)
A database containing all data, quotes, codes, output, and so on that is
associated with a research project.
PDs
Networks
Quotes
HU
Families
Codes
Memos

6. Central Concept
 Primary Document (PD)
A data file that can be assigned to a HU.
Surveys
Photo,
video, voice
Interview
PDs
Archival
research
Focus
groups
Observation

7. Starting a project
 The first time you run the software, you will be promoted with a
“welcome HU” by Atlas.ti
 Next time you run Atlas.ti, you will be promoted with the last saved HU
 Create a new folder for a project (anywhere on your computer)
 Move the original documents (they will be PDs) into the same folder
 Create an HU file in the same folder
 Save

8. To add new P-Docs
• Add Documents (My library) => To do your owned work.
• Add Documents (Team library) => To do team work and trace the work
of your colleagues.
 Always use “ Save copy Bundle” after any change.

9. How to view different P-Docs?
• Loading up to four documents simultaneously.
• Allows to conduct rich comparative analysis.

10. How to import survey into Atlas.ti?

11. How to import survey into Atlas.ti?

12. How to organize P-Docs into Families?

13. How to organize Codes into Families?

14. How to create Codes and Quotations?
 The Inductive- Deductive approaches of coding
External Framework
Generalization
DATA
DATA
Deductive
Inductive
You are not forced into a deductive or an inductive approach.
Commonly people combine both approaches.

15. How to create Codes and Quotations?

16. How to create Codes and Quotations?
Deductive Approach
Or
right click on text -> Coding -> Select Code from list

17. How to create Codes and Quotations?
Inductive Approach

18. How to apply Auto coding to search and
code a specific word?

19. How to apply Auto coding to search and
code a specific word?

20. How to code a video, picture, …?

21. How to code a video, picture, …?

22. How to remove codes from Quotation?

23. How to create Quotations and free
Quotations?
Quotation
 Segments of the text selected by researcher or auto-coding.
Create Free Quotation
 Free quotations are those quotations which are not linked to a code.
 Later on, the proper code for them will be created.
 Right click on a selected area and select “create free quotation” or select “” in the
shortcut bar located in the left side.

24. How to create free Quotations?

25. Quotation manager

26. How to resize the Quotation

27. How to create Memos?
 Spaces for reflection, analysis, integration, and interpretation.
 Memos can be linked to codes, quotations, and even other memos.

28. Network Views
 A smart way to visualize your analysis.
 Connect codes to codes and quotations to quotation through meaning and
sometimes P-Docs.
 Represent hypotheses & findings.
 There are 2 types of network links:
1) Weak-Link: linkages between elements created through the normal analytical
process.
2) Strong –Link: Graphic representation of a semantic type linking codes to codes
(quotations to quotations) through specific meaning- researcher’s understanding
of the problem.

29. How to create weak-link network?
 Right click on the code and choose “Open network”
 In new windows, right click on the code and select “Import common
Neighbors” from “Import Neighbors”.
 Go to Display -> Quotation verbosity -> Full text

30. How to create Strong-link network?
 Drag another code into the Network view.
 Click on one code to reveal the red dot, drag it and drop onto another code.
 Change the arrows by Flip link option on right click.

31. How to create Strong-link network?
 If you want to hide some linkages just right click and select “remove from
view”, DON’T Delete it.
 You can import existing nodes -> Nodes -> Import Nodes

32. How to save network?
 Go to “Network” -> “Save as Graphic file” (As picture)
 Go to “Network” -> “Print Network view” (Changeable)

33. How to create output?
 There are 2 types of output : qualitative and quantitative
Qualitative output
(Out put in Word)

34. How to create quantitative output?
 Enhanced potential for
 analysis ( especially in
finding the quotation count)
Quantitative output
(Out put in Excel)

35. How to create quantitative output?

36. How to create quantitative output?

37. How to make bundled files for backup
process?

38. How to make bundled files for backup
process?

39. The End
Email: payambarpour@aol.com
www.payambarpour.wordpress.com