This document outlines an NVivo training workshop for dissertation students. It includes 4 sessions on using NVivo for different aspects of the dissertation process, from the literature review to the final defense. Students can participate through large and small group sessions, one-on-one meetings, and independent work, with an option to stay an extra day. The trainer is an experienced researcher who can provide guidance on integrating NVivo into various stages of dissertation research and writing.

1. Getting Started and Finishing your Dissertation
Using NVivo
www.queri.com
Kristi Jackson, MEd PhD
kjackson@queri.com
303-832-9502

2. Session 1
◦ NVivo and successfully defended dissertations
Session 2
◦ NVivo and the dissertation literature review
Session 3
◦ NVivo, ethics and IRBs
Session 4
◦ NVivo and your dissertation defense

3. Large group
Small group
One-on-one
Independent work
Stay a 4th day
at no extra cost
www.Queri.com

4. 1. Terms and history
2. Basic NVivo capabilities
3. Citing and referencing NVivo
4. Trends and research on use of NVivo
5. Diversity of options among your
committee members and colleagues
6. Suggestions

5. Computer Assisted Qualitative Data AnalysiS (CAQDAS)
◦ NOT Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software
◦ Citations that properly refer to the acronym:
Bazeley, P. & Jackson, K. (2013). Qualitative data analysis with NVivo.
London: Sage Publications.
di Gregorio, S., & Davidson, J. (2008). Qualitative research design for
software users. Berkshire: Open University Press.
Gilbert, L., Jackson, K., & di Gregorio, S. (2013). Tools for analyzing
qualitative data: The history and relevance of qualitative data analysis
software. In J. M. Spector, M. D. Merrill, J. Elen, & M. J. Bishop (Eds.),
Handbook for research on educational communications and technology (4th
ed., pp. 221-238). London: Routledge.
Silver, C. & Lewins, S. (2014). Using software in qualitative research: A step-
by-step guide. London: Sage Publications.
Qualitative Data Analysis Software (QDAS or QDA software)
◦ Yuen, H. K., & Richards, T. J. (1994). Knowledge representation for
grounded theory construction in qualitative data analysis. Journal of
Mathematical Sociology 19(4), 279-298.

6. Silver, C. & Lewins, S. (2014). Using software in qualitative research:
A step-by-step guide. London: Sage Publications. (2nd edition)
I: What do you like about
working in this diverse
team?
R: Diverse ideas in a group
can help a group achieve
better decisions and a more
comprehensive lens. But, I
think some people don’t
realize how much they
benefit, individually, too.
Because they keep logging
in new ideas and new ways
of seeing things. So, it’s
not just a better group
product or decision, the
people actually walk out as
better people.
Diversity
Assign themes or codes to particular
pieces of text/audio/video/image.

7. Silver, C. & Lewins, S. (2014). Using software in qualitative research:
A step-by-step guide. London: Sage Publications. (2nd edition)
I: What do you like about
working in this diverse
team?
R: Diverse ideas in a group
can help a group achieve
better decisions and a more
comprehensive lens. But, I
think some people don’t
realize how much they
benefit, individually, too.
Because they keep logging
in new ideas and new ways
of seeing things. So, it’s
not just a better group
product or decision, the
people actually walk out as
better people.
Diversity
Assign themes or codes to particular
pieces of text/audio/video/image.
Assign multiple codes to a single
portion of text/audio/video/image.
Personal benefit
Better product

8. Silver, C. & Lewins, S. (2014). Using software in qualitative research:
A step-by-step guide. London: Sage Publications. (2nd edition)
Assign themes or codes to particular
pieces of text/audio/video/image.
Assign multiple codes to a single
portion of text/audio/video/image.
Cross-reference the relationships
among codes to investigate
constellations or patterns.
Diversity
Personal
benefit
Better
product
“So, it’s not just a better group
product or decision, the people
actually walk out as better
people.”

9. Silver, C. & Lewins, S. (2014). Using software in qualitative research:
A step-by-step guide. London: Sage Publications. (2nd edition)
I: What do you like about
working in this diverse
team?
R: Diverse ideas in a group
can help a group achieve
better decisions and a more
comprehensive lens. But, I
think some people don’t
realize how much they
benefit, individually, too.
Because they keep logging
in new ideas and new ways
of seeing things. So, it’s
not just a better group
product or decision, the
people actually walk out as
better people.
Diversity
Personal benefit
Better product
Assign themes or codes to particular
pieces of text/audio/video/image.
Assign multiple codes to a single
portion of text/audio/video/image.
Cross-reference the relationships
among codes to investigate
constellations or patterns.
Import quantitative or demographic
data as a means of comparing
subpopulations in the data.
community organizer, 28 years old,
5 years of experience, bilingual

10. Silver, C. & Lewins, S. (2014). Using software in qualitative research:
A step-by-step guide. London: Sage Publications. (2nd edition)
I: What do you like about
working in this diverse
team?
R: Diverse ideas in a group
can help a group achieve
better decisions and a more
comprehensive lens. But, I
think some people don’t
realize how much they
benefit, individually, too.
Because they keep logging
in new ideas and new ways
of seeing things. So, it’s
not just a better group
product or decision, the
people actually walk out as
better people.
Assign themes or codes to particular
pieces of text/audio/video/image.
Assign multiple codes to a single
portion of text/audio/video/image.
Cross-reference the relationships
among codes to investigate
constellations or patterns.
Import quantitative or demographic
data as a means of comparing
subpopulations in the data.
Track researcher ideas through the
use of memos and links.
The community organizers
who seem most
enthusiastic about their
work (and perhaps less
prone to burn-out) see
diverse angles on diversity.
They see how it can help or
have an impact in multiple
ways. I wonder if there is a
way to get community
organizers to see these
multiple effects. In turn, I
wonder if they’d be more
enthusiastic and less burnt
out.
memo/journal interview transcript

11. Silver, C. & Lewins, S. (2014). Using software in qualitative research:
A step-by-step guide. London: Sage Publications. (2nd edition)
Assign themes or codes to particular
pieces of text/audio/video/image.
Assign multiple codes to a single
portion of text/audio/video/image.
Cross-reference the relationships
among codes to investigate
constellations or patterns.
Import quantitative or demographic
data as a means of comparing
subpopulations in the data.
Track researcher ideas through the
use of memos and links.
Connecting and visualizing interpretations

12. Examples of first mention
◦ QSR International's NVivo 10 Software.
◦ QSR International's NVivo 10 qualitative data analysis software.
◦ NVivo Qualitative Data Analysis Software; QSR International Pty Ltd.
Version 10, 2012.
◦ NVivo 11 software (QSR International Pty Ltd.)
Years
◦ NVivo 10 - 2012
◦ NVivo for Mac - 2014
◦ NVivo 11 for Windows in three editions - 2015
NVivo Starter
NVivo Pro
NVivo Plus

13. Resources to help you articulate the role of NVivo
◦ Bazeley, P. & Jackson, K. (2013). Qualitative data analysis with NVivo.
London: Sage Publications. (2nd ed)
◦ di Gregorio, S., & Davidson, J. (2008). Qualitative research design for
software users. Berkshire: Open University Press.
◦ Richards, L. (2015). Handling qualitative data. London: Sage Publications.
(3rd ed)
◦ Jackson, K. (2014). Qualitative methods, transparency, and qualitative
data analysis software: Toward an understanding of transparency in
motion. Retrieved from ProQuest. 3621346
◦ Silver, C. & Lewins, S. (2014). Using software in qualitative research: A
step-by-step guide. London: Sage Publications. (2nd edition)

14. Methods
◦ Data management (handling)
◦ Ethics - storage/management, encryption, identity
protection (see your IRB)
◦ Data analysis strategies – the software SHOULD be
connected to methods
Findings
◦ Coding structures
◦ Pattern displays
Tables, charts, graphs, maps
Implications
◦ (Less frequent)

15. Mentions of NVivo in dissertations (ProQuest)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Anywhere
Abstract

16. Jackson, K. (2014). Qualitative methods, transparency, and
qualitative data analysis software: Toward an understanding
of transparency in motion.
1. Brief discussion of NVivo, even when it was identified as an
important part of the process
2. Role of visualizations in the process, rather than as a product (in
contrast with quantitative research)

17. Woods, M., Paulus, T., Atkins, D.P., & Macklin, R. (2015). Advancing
qualitative research using Qualitative Data Analysis Software
(QDAS)? Reviewing potential versus practice in published studies
using ATLAS.ti and NVivo, 1994-2013. Social Science Computer
Review. 1-21
Data
◦ NUDIST, NVivo, Atlas.ti
◦ Peer review journals, English
◦ 1994-2013
◦ 763 empirical studies
Findings
◦ For both software, most articles were “generic qualitative” “interview” or
“focus group”
225/414 for NVivo
◦ Only 10.4 % used visualizations

18. What do the individual members think
about your use of NVivo?
◦ Benefits:
Tools and activities
Audit trail
Revisit data and interpretations
Multiple data types
Mixed methods
Visualizations
Memos linked to data
Queries that cross-reference
(e.g., intersections)
Comparing sub-groups
Adjectives and descriptors
Transparency
Confirmability
Credibility
Durability
Reliability
Transferability

19. What do the individual members think
about your use of NVivo?
◦ Concerns:
Tools and activities
Text mining
Content analysis
Reference counts
Case counts
Few statistics
Coding by hand is important
Adjectives and descriptors
Homogenization
Distancing
Quantification
Unreflective
Get in the way
Mechanistic

20. Based on your conversations, fill out this
table:
Adjectives Tools/Activities
Benefits
Concerns

21. Identify the software and cite it properly
Reasons for selection over others
◦ Ease of use?
◦ Access?
Comparison with others
◦ Advantages?
◦ Similarities?
Cite books that reference the relevance/purpose
of QDAS
Anticipate the potential criticisms
◦ Committee
◦ Literature

22. Track your journey
◦ Likes, dislikes
◦ Things the software may have obscured
◦ Things you may not have seen the same way without it
◦ A memo called: Next steps
Specific features used and how you used them
◦ A few, well-placed screen captures along with narrative
Relevant sections
◦ Methods
Be specific about purpose (storage, coding, analysis, transcription)
Show how NVivo supports or relates to your method
Avoid “method neutral” language
Ethics - storage/management, encryption, identity protection (see your IRB)
◦ Findings
Coding structures
Pattern displays (tables, charts, graphs, maps)
◦ Implications

23. Session 1
◦ NVivo and successfully defended dissertations
Session 2
◦ NVivo and the dissertation literature review
Session 3
◦ NVivo, ethics and IRBs
Session 4
◦ NVivo and your dissertation defense

24. Large group
Small group
One-on-one
Independent work
Stay a 4th day
at no extra cost
www.Queri.com

25. Getting Started and Finishing your Dissertation
Using NVivo
www.queri.com
Kristi Jackson, MEd PhD
kjackson@queri.com
303-832-9502