Starting to Manage Data for Content Analysis

Data Form and Transformation What shape is the data in when you get it? What shape is the data in when you get it? What do you have to do to make it usable? What do you have to do to make it usable? What is the most convenient way to do it? What is the most convenient way to do it?

Coding IN or FROM Text Sometimes useful to mark up actual text Sometimes useful to mark up actual text for preliminary ideas for preliminary ideas to test possibilities to test possibilities for some kinds of qualitative analysis for some kinds of qualitative analysis For other situations this is unnecessary For other situations this is unnecessary you need more complex coding you need more complex coding you need to manage lots of units you need to manage lots of units you need to be able to quantify results you need to be able to quantify results

When It is In Computer Files POSSIBILITY of working directly on text POSSIBILITY of working directly on text But this is not necessarily desirable But this is not necessarily desirable Limitations for analysis Limitations for analysis Requires extensive file management Requires extensive file management This is what CAQDAS packages do This is what CAQDAS packages do But you can do some parts in Word But you can do some parts in Word We will try out these possibilities today We will try out these possibilities today

When It is NOT in Computer May not need to convert it at all May not need to convert it at all May be easier to code into computer May be easier to code into computer Keep data in existing form Keep data in existing form Use code numbers to identify Use code numbers to identify Code FROM that form into computer system Code FROM that form into computer system Increases analytical options Increases analytical options Simplifies data and file management Simplifies data and file management We will start that next week We will start that next week

What You Can Do in Word Find words and phrases Find words and phrases with the Find command (very basic) with the Find command (very basic) with a concordance file (more options) with a concordance file (more options) Mark passages in the text Mark passages in the text with concordance file field codes with concordance file field codes with the highlighter with the highlighter Make notes or connections Make notes or connections with footnotes with footnotes with comments with comments with hyperlinks with hyperlinks

What are the Limitations Have to keep working with whole texts Have to keep working with whole texts Hard to count instances Hard to count instances Hard to compare cases or sets Hard to compare cases or sets Hard to extract what you found Hard to extract what you found Hard to convert for further analysis Hard to convert for further analysis