Choosing a qualitative data analysis tool: a comparison of NVivo and Leximancer

Purpose This chapter aims to explicate the use of computer software for qualitative data analysis. Drawing on both a review of relevant literature and a reflexive commentary on an ongoing ethnography, this chapter argues that the use of computer software for qualitative data analysis facilitates rigour and reliability in research, whilst also contributing to wider debates regarding the distinctions made between different research paradigms. Design/methodology/approach The chapter is divided into two sections. In the first, a review of literature pertaining to the use of computer software for qualitative data analysis is reported. The key themes to emerge from this review are then explored in the second section, which consists of a reflexive commentary on the use of computer software for qualitative data analysis within an ongoing three-year Canadian/UK research project. Findings The chapter concludes firstly by foregrounding the methodological benefits of using computer software for qualitative data analysis, and secondly by commenting on wider debates relating to the historical distinctions between quantitative and qualitative research paradigms. Practical implications The chapter suggests that the uptake of computer software for qualitative data analysis should be considered as an integral element of the research design process. Originality/value The originality of this chapter rests in its focus on methodology rather than method, on a reflexive discussion of the place of computer software within the research process rather than a technical description of how software should be used. This chapter is of value not only to researchers who are using or considering using software for their research, but also to researchers who are engaged in wider methodological discussions relating to qualitative and quantitative research paradigms, and to research quality and generalisability.

In this introduction to the KWALON Experiment and related conference, we describe the motivations of the collaborating European networks in organising this joint endeavour. The KWALON Experiment consisted of five developers of Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) software analysing a dataset regarding the financial crisis in the time period 2008-2009, provided by the conference organisers. Besides this experiment, researchers were invited to present their reflective papers on the use of QDA software. This introduction gives a description of the experiment, the rules, research questions and reflective points, as well as a full description of the dataset and search rules used, and our reflection on the lessons learned. The related conference is described, as are the papers which are included in this FQS issue.

Research question Research on service innovation in sport is not theoretically aligned with service innovation theory. To address this, we conduct an empirical study utilising major service innovation theoretical approaches. We address the question: How do nonprofit sport organisations engage in service innovation? Research methods We combine existing service innovation frameworks to guide service innovation research in the nonprofit sport context. We apply it in a qualitative study, collecting data via 20 semi-structured interviews with Australian golf club managers. Data analysis relied on an inductive–deductive strategy. Results and findings We found evidence for practices following service innovation archetypes, with a propensity for the output-based and process-based archetypes, and less evidence for the systemic and experiential service innovation archetypes. Service innovation practices centred on provision and representational practices and were less dependent on management and organisational practices. Implications First, we demonstrate the complementary nature of the dominant and diverging theoretical approaches to service innovation. Second, we propose and provide empirical support for a combined conceptual framework for analysing service innovation. Finally, our research provides concrete managerial recommendations for stimulating service innovation within organisations and beyond.

Understanding the concept of professionalisation in sport management research

The purpose of this research is to introduce and demonstrate the use of an adaptation of the established focus group research method, referred to as the sequential-funnel-based focus group design. This adaptation is described, developed, explained, and tested with an intention of adding to the rigor of the method's application and, by extension, rebranding focus group as a sound method of inquiry. To illustrate the method, the work used the topic of the value of social media as a relationship marketing medium through a conduct of eight focus groups of a three-phase design over a two-month period. An adaptation with increased rigor is proposed as a sound method of inquiry for sport management scholars. The value and challenges of the design is discussed, and an outline for its future use as a method in sport management is presented.

Collaboration between industry and academia is a subject of great interest to sport management academics and sport industry leaders in the United States. However, there is a lack of research regarding barriers to sport industry–academia collaborations and bridging the gap between sport management research and practitioners. The aim of the study was to explore trends in collaboration barriers among various research involvement levels of U.S. sport firms with sport management academia. Data were gathered from 303 sport managers working for U.S. sport companies. Results indicated several barriers for research collaborations between the U.S. sport industry and academia. Such barriers include transactional barriers, sport industry subsectors, sport organizations’ location, and age and education level of respondents.

Developments during the 1990s in the use of computer software for qualitative data analysis are surveyed. Salient trends are identified as are wider issues associated with software use. Also listed are some of the resources now available to potential and actual users of computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS).

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic (and the pandemic of capitalism, white supremacy, imperialism, colonialism, etc.) calls for imaginative, relevant, and critical approaches in sport management education to address diverse, socially, and culturally dynamic students. Yet, the bulk of existing educational resources remain rooted in reinforcing systems of domination and the structure of ongoing settler colonialism. A major challenge in traditional approaches to “updating” the curriculum fall short in challenging the banking mode of education. Following Amis and Silk’s call for a “rupture” of the reproduction of the status quo within sport management research, we invite sport management educators to reconsider the skills and embodied knowledge needed to equip sport management students to critically interrogate the “classroom-to-industry” pipeline. We introduce zine making as a pedagogical practice in the classroom. Zine making facilitates learning through a process of doing and thinking. When implemented intentionally, students explore their lived experiences, applying critical social theories to practice through shared learning and creative expression.

Big data and innovative research methods are two rapidly evolving trends that are transforming how we conduct research in sport management. Considering the natural relationship between social media, which is widely recognized as a major big-data source, and sport, this commentary centers on contemporary research method applied to social media data. In doing so, it discusses contemporary innovative techniques for social media data, focusing on exploring ways to access social media data, the natural language-processing techniques used, the challenges they address, the strengths and limitations of different techniques, and the ethical and privacy considerations associated with their use. Furthermore, the commentary demonstrates that using sentiment-analysis tools (e.g., Syuzhet, Bing, and AFFIN) is appropriate and efficient in analyzing sport’s social media data. Thus, a rigorous application of contemporary innovative techniques can significantly shape the future of sport management research. However, researchers must exercise caution when considering the source and preprocessing of the data prior to applying advanced analytical techniques.

Most of the advancements in women’s sport and gender research in sport management over the last half-century can be characterized as liberal feminism. Supporters of liberalism present the pragmatic point that it is essential for females to have access to participation to have access to power. However, although the current practice of redistributive liberal feminism may increase the number of female participants, it does little to challenge or alter dominant gendered discourses and power structures within sport organizations. In this chapter we aim to explore the evolution of female participation in the sex-integrated sport of equestrian. Using the frameworks of liberal, socialist, and poststructuralist feminism, we discuss the place of gender in the context of participation and governance. We conclude that, although sex-integrated sport provides an opportunity to reframe the place of gender in sport, dominant discourses prevail. For example, although there is evidence of inclusive forms of masculinity, these are still constructed in opposition to a devalued femininity. Specifically, we highlight the constructs of patriarchy, class, elitism, and capitalism, which in particular appear to influence access to the higher echelons of sport governance.

A central issue within sport management is the extent to which the field should develop a distinctive theoretical knowledge base. This paper empirically investigates the connectedness within (intrafield) and between (interfield) management and sport management disciplines in one specific knowledge domain—institutional theory. We utilized a database of 188 sport-related institutional studies and conducted a citation network analysis of the aggregated reference lists from these articles. We argue that the fields of management and sport management act like “ships in the night.” That is, as the field of sport management has become more distinctive, the field is becoming less connected with general management literature and contemporary theoretical discussions. Potential implications for sport management scholarship and understanding the nature of the field are discussed, along with how it may be possible (if desired) to bridge the gap between sport and management research.

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.

Qualitative data analysis software (QDAS) packages that support live data extraction are a relatively recent innovation. Little has been written concerning the research implications of differences in such QDAS packages’ functionalities, and how such disparities might contribute to contrasting analytical opportunities. Consequently, early-stage researchers may experience difficulties in choosing an apt QDAS for Twitter analysis. In response to both methodological gaps, this paper presents a software comparison across the four QDAS tools that support live Twitter data imports, namely, ATLAS.ti™, NVivo™, MAXQDA™ and QDA Miner™. The authors’ QDAS features checklist for these tools spotlights many differences in their functionalities. These disparities were tested through data imports and thematic coding that was derived from the same queries and codebook. The authors’ resultant QDAS experiences were compared during the first activity of a broad qualitative analysis process, ‘organising data’. Notwithstanding large difference in QDAS pricing, it was surprising how much the tools varied for aspects of qualitative research organisation. Notably, the quantum of data extracted for the same query differed, largely due to contrasts in the types and amount of data that the four QDAS could extract. Variations in how each supported visual organisation also shaped researchers’ opportunities for becoming familiar with Twitter users and their tweet content. Such disparities suggest that choosing a suitable QDAS for organising live Twitter data must dovetail with a researcher’s focus: ATLAS.ti accommodates scholars focused on wrangling unstructured data for personal meaning-making, while MAXQDA suits the mixed-methods researcher. QDA Miner’s easy-to-learn user interface suits a highly efficient implementation of methods, whilst NVivo supports relatively rapid analysis of tweet content. Such findings may help guide Twitter social science researchers and others in QDAS tool selection. Future research can explore disparities in other qualitative research phases, or contrast data extraction routes for a variety of microblogging services.

Background:The infants, hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), engage with problems from admission to discharge, exploring of which ensures their safe transition. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors that influence infant's transition from the NICU to home.Materials and Methods:A qualitative study was used for identifying the factors that affect infant's transition. Data were gathered by interviewing 16 nurses and physicians in NICUs of university hospitals in Iran; and were analyzed by qualitative content analysis method. MAXQDA, MAX Qualitative Data Analysis, is a software which has been developed in Berlin, Germany. software, the qualitative data analysis package, was used for coding and categorizing.Results:There are 10 categories that affect infant's transition, as revealed in data analysis. These categories were delineated into three themes: Cognition of infant's needs, effectiveness of trainings, and organizational context.Conclusion:The results of this study further disclosed the factors that facilitate or hinder infant's transition from the NICU to home. The aspects of correct cognition along with more effective trainings must be fully introduced to the staff to meet infant's needs. Also, authorities are better to make policies to decrease organizational barriers. Therefore, it is suggested that applying developmental care can ease infant's transition.

The importance of team brand associations in sport management research is well documented, but the formation and stability of these associations has not been investigated. The current research tested the development, change, and predictive ability of brand associations over time. Longitudinal quantitative data were collected from consumers of a new Australian Football League (AFL) team (N = 169) at 3 points in time. One-sample t-tests revealed that brand associations had developed through marketing communications and the launch of the team before the team had played its first AFL game. Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance and latent growth modeling showed that brand associations changed over time, reflecting consumers’ experiences with the team. A cross-lagged panel model highlighted that brand associations influenced consumer loyalty in the future. Consequently, sport managers are provided with insights on the development of and change in brand associations that new consumers link with sport teams.