NVivo Qualitative Data Analysis Software: Other Resources for
Qualitative Research

The below publications by GSU Emeritus Professor of Sociology Dr. Ralph LaRossa outline a methodological framework for creating theoretically-rich qualitative analysis:

• ​LaRossa, R. (2005). Grounded theory methods and qualitative family research. Journal of Marriage and Family, 67(4), 837–857.
• LaRossa, R. (2012). Writing and reviewing manuscripts in the multidimensional world of qualitative research. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74(4), 643–659.
• LaRossa, R. (2012). Thinking about the nature and scope of qualitative research. Journal of Marriage and Family, 74(4), 678–687. 

And this article describes the joint presentation Dr. LaRossa and Dr. Mandy Swygart-Hobaugh give annually on integrating methods into using NVivo:

• Swygart-Hobaugh, M. (2019). Bringing method to the madness: An example of integrating social science qualitative research methods into NVivo data analysis software training. IASSIST Quarterly, 43(2), 1-16.

Annual Presentation on the Logics and Logistics of Qualitative Research

Dr. LaRossa and Dr. Mandy Swygart-Hobaugh annually* present the following joint session:

The Logics and Logistics of Qualitative Research: A Framework for Exploring Concepts, Dimensions, and Relationships in Qualitative Data using NVivo Research Software

Dr. LaRossa discusses the steps involved in building theoretically-rich qualitative analyses (the logics) and Dr. Swygart-Hobaugh outlines the specific features of NVivo qualitative research software that complement and facilitate these analyses (the logistics).

*This presentation typically occurs in October -- so watch the workshops calendar for the next time.

NVivo does not do automatic transcription. And everyone I've talked to has said that there is no decent transcription software out there for multi-voice transcription (if it's single voice, you might try Dragon software). Here are some tips, though, on your options:

Tools/Apps

• Top 10 Call Recorder Apps for Android and iPhone
• Otter - records and transcribes
• Rev - upload audio files for human transcription
• Temi - upload audio files for automatic/machine transcription
• Trint - upload audio files for automatic/machine transcription, or use the app to record and transcribe

Using NVivo:

• Transcribe within NVivo (Windows | Mac)
• Pay NVivo to transcribe (Windows | Mac)

You can also pay a person to do transcription -- find transcriber services in the Atlanta area.

Below are some resources for exploring other Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) options (e.g., Dedoose, ATLAS.ti, QDA Miner).

NOTE: As GSU does not have campus-wide licenses to these other softwares, there is no campus training/support for using them.

Below are some resources for conducting text analysis and text mining, information about CAQDAS, creating metadata for qualitative data, finding existing qualitative data for original analyses, and more:

Below are a handful of well-known books on coding practices to help you learn the analytical process of coding. REMEMBER: NVivo is just the *TOOL* for facilitating your analytical coding -- the real *ANALYSIS* comes from YOU and is informed by your research questions and your coding framework.

Below are some resources for how to approach writing up your qualitative analysis findings -- see also these tips on finding research that has used NVivo for analysis to consult how they report their use of NVivo.

Converting Image-Scanned PDFs to OCR/Text Searchable PDFs

If a PDF is image-scanned/non-OCR-ed, you *may* be able to use Adobe Acrobat Pro DC to convert it to recognizable text and then be able to select and search the text.

The Library's CURVE computers have Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, and you can also get a free trial for Adobe Acrobat Pro DC here.

NOTE: Success in converting an image-scanned/non-OCR-ed PDF to OCR text depends on the quality of the original scan.

Steps in process using Adobe Acrobat Pro DC:

1. Open Adobe Acrobat Pro DC.
2. Click Tools menu at top left.
3. Click Enhance Scans icon.
4. Click Select a file, find file and click open, then click Start button.
5. File will open, then click the Recognize Text option in toolbar and click In This File.
6. Click Recognize Text button, and Converting scanned page to Searchable Image process should begin.
7. Once that process is completed, click the Recognize Text option in toolbar again and click Correct recognized text to find scan errors and correct them (by filling in correct text and then clicking Accept button).
8. Once you’ve completed the corrections process, click File > Save As and save the PDF as a new file that should be OCR-ed/text searchable.

This short screencast clip demonstrates the above steps (no sound).

Alternative OCR option: Use ABBYY FineReader Online (gives a 15-day free trial period)

Collect your own data using Qualtrics, a survey construction and data collection/evaluation tool that is available to the GSU community.

• Creating a Qualtrics Account
• Schedule a consult on Qualtrics with a Research Data Services (RDS) Team member