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How Qualitative Data Analysis Software may Support the Qualitative Analysis Process

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Abstract

The last decades have shown large progress in the elaboration of procedures for qualitative data analysis and in the development of computer programs to support this kind of analysis. We believe, however, that the link between methodology and computer software tools is too loose, especially for a novice qualitative researcher. It is very unclear to select the proper functions and tools as a support in a specific phase of analysis. In texts, you will find a description of the steps of qualitative analysis, and in separate texts computer tools are presented, but what function or tool to use in what phase of analysis is hardly discussed. In this article, we will elaborate the phases of the grounded theory approach and indicate which of the tools of the computer program Kwalitan is to be used in each of the steps and procedures. We will also show how the functions of the computer program may be used when doing a qualitative analysis according to three other approaches, namely summarizing analysis, ethnographic analysis and narrative analysis.

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Correspondence to Vincent Peters.

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Peters, V., Wester, F. How Qualitative Data Analysis Software may Support the Qualitative Analysis Process. Qual Quant 41, 635–659 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-006-9016-8

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