Nvivo 101: organize your research with qualitative data analysis software

Introduction to Nvivo.

Table of contents:
1. Installing Nvivo
2. Connecting Zotero to Nvivo
3. Organizing files
4. Coding: how to and coding strategies
5. Project management tips
6. Highlighting codes
7. Memos: how to use and link them to files
8. Annotations
9. Relationships (only available on Nvivo for Windows)

Deck developed for the SFU CMNS 801 course: DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY IN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH

Transcript

1. Organizing your literature review Using Reference Manager Software and Nvivo Alberto Lusoli, Simon Fraser University. School of Communication
2. Troubleshooting Zotero & plugins From library to lit review: Nvivo Basic elements: Sources Notes Annotations Nodes and Codes Coding strategies Relations Auto coding
3. Troubleshooting Zotero & plugins From library to lit review: Nvivo Basic elements: Sources Notes Annotations Nodes and Codes Coding strategies Relations Auto coding
5. 5 WORD PLUGIN + ZOTERO CONNECTOR
6. Reviewing literature
7. 7 http://bit.ly/install-nvivo
8. Open Nvivo
10. 10 DATA CASES NOTES CODES Nodes Files Memos File classifications Externals Annotations
11. 11 DATA CODES Nodes Files File classifications Externals
12. 12 DATA CODES Nodes Files File classifications Externals Data can be everything: the papers we are reding for 801, the literature for my comprehensive exam, the background literature of my research. But also: the transcripts of my interviews, social media data, movies, ads, etc.
13. 13 DATA CODES Nodes Files File classifications Externals Nodes are abstract categories we create on top of our data. They can be used to isolate concepts, to summarize facts, to compare ideas, etc.
14. Data
15. 15 RIS Select items in your library Right click > export RIS format Include files and notes EXPORTING FROM ZOTERO
16. 16 EXPORTING FROM ZOTERO
17. 17 EXPORTING FROM ZOTERO
18. Back to Nvivo
19. 20 RIS Move to Files Right click > Import Bibliographical Data Zotero Locate the .RIS file (make sure it ends in .ris) Name sources by: Author and Year Import! IMPORTING INTO NVIVO
20. 21 Move to Files Right click > Import Bibliographical Data Zotero Locate the .RIS file (make sure it ends in .ris) Name sources by: Author and Year Import! IMPORTING INTO NVIVO
21. 22 Move to Files Right click > Import Bibliographical Data Zotero Locate the .RIS file (make sure it ends in .ris) Name sources by: Author and Year Import! IMPORTING INTO NVIVO
22. 23 Move to Files Right click > Import Bibliographical Data Zotero Locate the .RIS file (make sure it ends in .ris) Name sources by: Author and Year Import! Once imported, files are incorporated into your Nvivo project file. Therefore, you can safely delete the “Exported items” folder created by the Zotero export. IMPORTING INTO NVIVO
23. Where’s my data?
24. Files Vs Externals Classification Folders View options (undock)
25. Files (not recommended) Entry + File Entry Files External (Why are they relevant: use cases)
26. 27 WHICH KIND OF DATA CAN WE IMPORT? Text (PDF, Docx, RTF, etc.) Video Audio Images Datasets
28. Benefits Nvivo won’t write your dissertation for you. However, it can help in: Keeping your ideas organized (lit review) Give you a sense of progress and see how your ideas have changed over time Supporting your on-field research (interviews, multimedia data analysis, etc).
30. Codes Nodes, the heart of Nvivo. You can think of them as “Tags”
33. Non-OCR text Graphs Photos
34. Coding strategies The beauty of nodes is their flexibility. Nvivo does not impose a-priori Nodes, therefore we are free to choose or develop the coding protocol that best serves our needs.
35. Inductive Deductive Inductive: bottom-up approach Deductive: top-down
36. Coding strategies Doing a literature review? I usually proceed inductively: building concepts bottom-up from the literature. In lit reviews, I usually create one “branch” for Authors (helps me summarizing one Author’s main ideas)
37. Coding strategies Doing a sentiment analysis of newspaper article? You might want to have a branch for Sentiment with sub-nodes for Negative and Positive Analyzing Canadian regulations in matter of X? You might want to code for specific Areas Mapping the sources for your Research Questions
38. Coding strategies Doing a sentiment analysis of newspaper article? You might want to have a branch for Sentiment with sub-nodes for Negative and Positive Analyzing Canadian regulations in matter of X? You might want to code for specific Areas Mapping the sources for your Research Questions Deductive Deductive Inductive (al least in my case)
39. Coding strategies Let’s take five minutes to think about the lit review for you research, or comprehensive field, and possible coding strategies. Should you proceed inductively or deductively? Why?
41. Warm up Code a text into an existing node Code text into new node Highlight coded texts Show the coding stripe
43. CODING STRIPE
46. Verba Volant Using Nodes description is a great way to remember what a node means. Especially useful when coding inductively. To add a description to your nodes, right click one node, click on “Node Properties”.
47. Project management How many Nvivo projects should I have? One for my research and one for al my courses? One per each course? One per each comprehensive field? It depends.
48. Project management Nvivo files tend to expand over time (a 0.5Gb - 1 Gb file is normal if you work with text files only) Malfunctions can corrupt Nvivo files. Backup often.
50. 51 DATA CASES NOTES CODES Nodes Files Memos File classifications Externals Annotations
51. 52 DATA NOTES CODES Nodes Files Memos File classifications Externals Annotations
52. Memos Memos are texts that can be associated to files and Externals However, they can also exist in project as isolated elements.
53. Memos This is where you can create new knowledge. For instance, you can use memo to: Summarize readings Write your research diary … Coding Memos
54. Memos Summaries In-itinere reflections
55. Memos If you have imported Files from Zotero, you will probably find a bunch of memos created automatically during the import. Those memo contain the abstract of the paper. You can edit them clicking on the Edit link at the top of the memo file.
56. Memo linking Memo can be linked to any other entity within the project (e.g. a File, an External). There are 2 ways to create a linked memo: 1. Link an item (e.g. a file) to an existing memo
57. Memo linking 1. Link an item (e.g. a file) to an existing memo
58. Memo linking 2. Link an item (e.g. a File) to a new memo
59. Coding memo Just like files, memo can be coded.
60. Coding memo This means that your Nodes can contain both concepts from the literature Files and reflections from your Memos.
61. Organizing memo Since Memo can serve different purposes, it might be useful to classify them into folders. Field research memos 801 project memos Multi-course project memos
62. Annotations Side notes Limitations: Not codable Hard to retrieve
63. Annotations Side notes Limitations: Not codable Hard to retrieve
64. Nodes A little extra for Windows users
65. Relations For instance, for connecting Authors.
66. Nodes Lit review specifics: Authors and relations (not available yet on macOS)
67. Nodes Lit review specifics: Authors and relations (not available yet on macOS)
68. Nodes Sentiment