Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software.

Teaching qualitative methods to students has become more frequent in social work programs. The use of computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software has also increased. Improper use of these software programs, however, can lead to misinterpretation of qualitative data. Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software instruction has evolved in an ad hoc manner in spite of the importance of correct use of this software. This results in a lack of thorough knowledge of computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software or knowledge of the software that poorly incorporates qualitative methodology. We propose a new model that addresses these barriers by incorporating computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software instruction with qualitative inquiry via a dual instruction method. This model centers on the collaboration between the qualitative faculty instructor and a specialized computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software trainer. The result of this is integration of qualitative research knowledge with computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software skills. Both the faculty member and specialized computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software trainer have the opportunity to work with the students and collaborate with one another. This paper describes the new model, including its conception and requirements for its implementation. We discuss our own experiences implementing the model and offer individual reflections of the faculty member, the trainer, and a student from the pilot program. The results appear to be more effective and appropriate use of this software.

Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) are tools that help researchers to develop qualitative research projects. These software packages help the users with tasks such as transcription analysis, coding and text interpretation, writing and annotation, content search and analysis, recursive abstraction, grounded theory methodology, discourse analysis, data mapping, among several other types of analysis. This paper analyses the new paradigm of self-learning that presents itself increasingly as a competence to support learning in a proactive way. It further analyses education and CAQDAS with emphasis on the use of CAQDAS in educational research and the self-learning of CAQDAS. The study conducted had two main goals: analyse the self-learning tools of CAQDAS and identify CAQDAS's users profile regarding learning. Six software packages were selected: NVivo, Atlas.ti, Dedoose, webQDA, MAXQDA, and QDA Miner. They were then reviewed, taking into account their transversality, language, (self-learning) tools, among several other factors. The results show that there is a considerable demand for information from users regarding the execution of processes in CAQDAS, and that the packages analysed do not guide the user towards the self-learning tools that best fit their learning style.

For many years, qualitative analysis has largely been undertaken using manual techniques. Since the late 1980s, dedicated software has been developed to aid qualitative analysis. The first generation of computer programs was largely designed to assist researchers in managing data by enabling the structuring of information from focus groups, field notes and interviews. One of the first computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) packages (developed by Australian academic Tom Richards) was called NUD*IST, which stands for Non-numerical Unstructured Data Indexing, Searching and Theorising. It was designed to provide a program like SPSS but as a non-Statistical Package for Social Scientists. Second generation CAQDAS packages introduced functions for coding text and manipulating, searching and reporting on the coded text. This assisted researchers in the retrieval of text from data, enabled scholars to code that data and develop a system of relating codes to each other using tree-like structures.

Purpose This paper aims to explore the potential of computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) to be used as a corruption investigation tool to help investigators in carrying out their investigative works. Design/methodology/approach By reviewing the literature on qualitative research and fraud investigation, this exploratory study identifies similarities between the two types of inquiries and thus proposing the use of CAQDAS as an innovation in the field of corruption investigation. To demonstrate how a QDA application can support corruption investigators, NVivo is used as a case study from which various key analytical tools are discussed to highlight their potential in supporting a corruption investigation. Findings As a fundamental part of anti-corruption practice in a country, corruption investigation must be planned and executed professionally and adequately. This paper highlights various stages in fraud investigation to identify areas that can be improved with the use of a CAQDAS. Based on the discussion in this paper, the author concludes that the capability of a CAQDAS to assist users in data reduction and data display has the potential to increase the effectiveness and efficiency in various stages of a corruption investigation. Research limitations/implications Based on a self-funded study, this paper only uses a simulation case with a fictitious company to illustrate how a CAQDAS application can be used to support a corruption investigation process. Future studies may benefit from using actual corruption cases in illustrating how such an application can support the investigation process. Practical implications This paper contributes to the innovation in anti-corruption practice by proposing a new framework and tool to develop corruption investigation capacity. Originality/value This paper brings a new perspective into the field of anti-corruption to stimulate innovation in the area of corruption investigation.

BackgroundA focus on patient’s and service user’s perspectives regarding long-term antipsychotic treatment led to a declaration from the Norwegian Ministry of Health in 2015 to offer treatment without psychotropic medication in mental health as a voluntary option in all four health care regions. In the northernmost region, a 6-bed inpatient ward unit was established, uniquely designed to give people with severe mental illness the possibility to choose such treatment. Only voluntary admissions were accepted. The aim of the present study was to explore the motivation for applying for medication free treatment among patients with several years of treatment history due to psychosis.MethodWe performed nineteen semi-structured, in-depth interviews with persons having at least one admission at the medication free treatment ward during the period 01.01.17 – 17.10.2021. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (NVivo). Systematic Text Condensation was applied, with analysis of data from the first interview. Exploration of connections, similarities and nuances was performed through axial coding with continuous comparison of data and memo writing, followed by focused coding identifying core concepts.ResultsAll participants had a diagnosis of severe mental illness and a history of use of antipsychotics throughout many years. The motivation to apply for medication free treatment was complex. Negative experiences with medication were described, but also positive. Many had tried to taper off before, but described this as a lonely and difficult process. Five core concepts were formed and developed from the participants’ narratives: 1) Medication experiences, 2) Developing illness, 3) Treatment in general, 4) Social life and 4) Growing up.ConclusionThe concept of medication free treatment represents a salutogenetic hope for change, closely linked to self-efficacy and an experience of mastery. Potential conflicts concerning guidelines or evidence on medication does not come forward as important. Support from family and professionals is crucial, in contrast to the feeling of being alone when hoping for change. Motivational factors are closely linked to the concept of recovery, where interaction happens on both an individual and a structural level.

The maritime industry plays a dual role as a critical driver of global trade and a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) and air pollutant emissions, posing challenges to environmental sustainability. As key nodes in the global supply chain, ports face mounting pressure to adopt greener practices. This study synthesises insights from contemporary scientific research articles, highlighting best practices, successful case studies, and obstacles in implementing emission reduction strategies and environmentally friendly port services worldwide. A two-step mixed-methods approach was utilised, combining a systematic review of literature with qualitative data analysis. The PRISMA methodology guided the selection of 27 peer-reviewed articles from the Web of Science Core Collection, spanning the period from 2015 to 2024. Subsequently, thematic coding and comprehensive analysis were conducted using Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) ATLAS.ti, enabling a structured synthesis of findings related to port services and emission reduction strategies. Through this analysis, three critical themes emerged as essential for enhancing environmental sustainability in port operations: innovative technologies for emission reduction, data-driven optimization for port efficiency, and policies and governance for green ports. Drivers such as financial incentives, advanced technologies, and regulatory frameworks were identified, alongside barriers like economic feasibility, technical challenges, and organisational resistance. These themes reveal the interconnected nature of sustainability efforts and the need for collaborative strategies to overcome existing obstacles. By identifying key drivers and challenges, this research offers valuable insights for advancing sustainable practices in port operations. The findings underscore the importance of aligning technological, operational, and policy-driven measures to foster environmental efficiency while mitigating emissions. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable port operations, providing actionable insights for stakeholders and policymakers in the maritime industry to support the transition toward greener and more efficient port practices.

Various models for promoting regional industrial innovation have been proposed over the years. One of the most influential and recent of these is the theoretical framework of constructing regional advantage (CRA), which promotes the competitiveness through product differentiation in a regional industry. A fundamental underpinning of this framework is that regional advantage does not occur automatically in clusters of related firms as previously established in the literature. Instead, it can be triggered through proactive partnerships between public and private actors. Extant applications of this framework have revealed two shortcomings. The first relates to its lack of focus on the firm level, though the firm is the central actor in the framework. The second relates to its modelling on metropolitan regions characterised by agglomerations and urbanisations economies, making its application to non-metropolitan regions difficult. In addressing these limitations, this thesis proposes a reconceptualisation of the CRA model and empirically tests it in the Australian maritime industry. The geographic locations of the empirical testing are the Perth metropolitan region (Western Australia) and Tasmania, host to two maritime clusters. This thesis aims to explore the activities and barriers to innovation in maritime firms, identify the factors influential for constructing regional advantage, investigate whether differences exist in the two regions regarding the determinants of the innovation process of maritime firms, and provides a comprehensive framework for constructing regional advantage in the maritime industry in these regions. This thesis adopts a convergent mixed methods research methodology, consisting of a web-survey and telephone interviews with participants from the two selected regions. Quantitative data of 54 survey responses were analysed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the Chi-square test of independence. Techniques used for analysing qualitative data of 34 interview transcripts include word count, classical content analysis and template analysis. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 24 assisted in the analysis of quantitative data while the computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software NVivo version 11 helped to organise and analyse qualitative data. A key outcome of the quantitative findings is the emergence of the demand factor, which is not a building block of the initial CRA framework developed within the literature. A key outcome from the qualitative findings is the identification of a new theme, triggers for innovation‚ÄövÑvp. Four triggers were identified, two of which are proactive (adding value to stakeholders and the desire for competitiveness) and the other two being reactive (customers' requests or demands and day to day challenges). The merged results show that four factors are influential for constructing regional advantage in the maritime industry in the studied regions. They are regional factors, knowledge sourcing factors, innovation capability factors and demand factors. The emergence of demand as a factor as well as a trigger for innovation is a significant finding of this thesis, as the initial CRA framework is supply driven. It is also found that maritime firms in both regions are actively engaged in innovation and recognise the importance of innovation to distance themselves from competition. Maritime firms in the Perth metropolitan have a location advantage (in terms of access to skilled labour and proximity to suppliers, customers and to similar and other industries) over their Tasmanian counterparts. Nonetheless, this location advantage does not ultimately result in great discrepancy in terms of their innovation outputs compared to those of maritime firms in Tasmania. Based on these results, this thesis argues that the integration of supply and demand measures in a single framework is a sine qua none of constructing regional advantage in the maritime industry in the studied Australian regions. Public procurement for innovation, demand subsidies and regulations were identified as potential demand tools for triggering the innovation process of maritime firms. This thesis makes several contributions to the literature on regional industrial competitiveness. In connection with theory, it provides a more comprehensive CRA framework that not only connects demand and supply, but also includes a firm level dimension. The framework is generic in nature and connects three different disciplines (economic geography, innovation management and regional development), paving the way for multi-disciplinary applications. With respect to methodology, this thesis introduces the mixed method approach to the constructing regional advantage literature. The thesis also adds to the limited number of a mixed method innovation studies. Furthermore, it is the first introduction of the CRA framework to maritime studies and its first application to the Australian setting. In practice, the thesis provides policy makers in the studied regions with a clear set of guidelines for constructing regional advantage in the maritime industry. Policy makers in other countries might also use these guidelines as a starting point for constructing regional industrial advantage in their regions.

Data Analysis of Virtual Learning Environment: Using the Computer-Mediated Discourse Analysis Technique with the Support of Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software

Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) was developed for the purpose of creating efficient modes of qualitative data analysis (Fielding & Lee, 1998). Despite these developments, many social scientists continue to advocate manual data analysis techniques (Hammersley & Atkinson, 1995). Given the rapid development of computerized methods of data analysis amid the continued call for the use of naturalistic inquiry in sport psychology research, the aim of this research note was to compare manual and computerized data analysis techniques. Results highlight the advantages, disadvantages, and commonly held assumptions of the use of CAQDAS.

This exploratory study analysed the Threshold Learning Outcomes (TLOs) specified in the Bachelor of Laws Learning and Teaching Academic Standards Statement December 2010, and the Competency Standards for Entry-Level Lawyers for Practical Legal Training, as updated by the Australasian Professional Legal Education Council and Law Admissions Consultative Committee in February 2002 (NCS). The qualitative analysis was undertaken using the NVivo computer assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS), to investigate how skills were categorised and defined in each of the documents. The results were then analysed to compare the respective categorisation and definition of skills, and to point to potential complements, overlaps, conflicts, gaps, or blind spots, between the TLOs and the NCS. The findings, and the methodology adopted, might provide insights for future instructional design, content, and delivery of Practical Legal Training programs, and for future reviews of the TLOs and NCS.

Qualitative international research is increasingly popular in marketing, management and business practice. Cultural dimensions, most importantly language, play a central role in this research context. The importance of language in the context of questionnaire design and international data gathering has long been stressed in various sources (Pike 1966; Brislin 1970; Piekkari & Welch 2004). However, the practice of qualitative data collection and analysis has not been addressed sufficiently, although new and innovative software-based tools are available to help these efforts. This paper deals with methodological and practical issues in analysing qualitative interviews with corporate elites. We illustrate conceptual challenges in setting up qualitative projects that build on interviewing corporate elites and address practical implementation issues in terms of multilingual coding, node creation and theory building by means of computerassisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS). To this end a specific empirical example will be used.

Healthcare services at Maternal healthcare facilities operate to provide safe delivery for women of childbearing age. The numerous maternal deaths remain a concern, even though the government maintains maternity healthcare facilities. All literature studies show that health services usage remains low in rural regions, particularly Northern Nigeria. This study delved into exploring male partners' and health workers' views on women's utilisation of maternal healthcare services in Bauchi state, Nigeria. The study adopted a case study qualitative research design. A purposive sampling technique was used to select five married men and two skilled birth attendants, who were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. The data collected were transcribed and translated from Hausa to English. Braun and Clarke's (2006) Thematic Data Analytical technique was used to analyse the data with Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS), MAXQDA 2024. Three themes emerged from the analysis: maternal healthcare factors, women's use of maternal healthcare, and women's issues. There was a staff shortage, an unfavourable staff attitude, and a distance from the health centres. In contrast, the maternal healthcare centres were not in good condition to attract reproductive women to the healthcare centre. Reproductive women experienced financial challenges and inadequate spousal support and mostly used healthcare during emergencies. Hence, it was recommended that health institutions, NGOs, and policymakers should partner to educate communities about home and self-delivery, including the potential risks and benefits

The reviewed book concentrates on the issue of qualitative data analysis. It primarily provides practical information for students and social researchers on how to deal with textual data starting with data preparation until writing the actual report. The book proposes as a convenient and effective way to process data. But, what is additionally valuable, it suggests multiple comparative analysis techniques which would allow a researcher to go beyond simple coding and retrieving in order to achieve more plausible and in-depth interpretations. Apart from this, it introduces a reader to the analysis of biographies and narratives, as well as to computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS). The book is full of practical advice, with a lot of how-to-do suggestions and useful examples, as well as indications of the possible difficulties in the analysis. Still, even if the book seems to be kept on an elementary level, it would have helped readers to better apply proposed practical advice to their research, if, before reading the book, they had acquired more general knowledge about the specificity of qualitative analysis and the various approaches used within it. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs100341

This paper examines the 2022 War in Ukraine through the conceptual lens of country image within a broader framework of public diplomacy, soft power, and nation branding. It applies integrative and longitudinal perspectives to examine Ukraine’s country image and country image cultivation strategies over a period of three decades from its independence in 1991 to the 2022 Russo-Ukraine War. To understand Ukraine’s country image, or perceptions of Ukraine held by international stakeholders, a case study examined a convergence of multiple sources of evidence and methods. One method focuses on sentiment analysis through Leximancer, a computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software, to evaluate and compare Ukraine’s country image in international news media discourse across three periods of analysis separated by three major events: Ukraine’s independence in 1991, the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, and the 2022 Russo-Ukraine War. The findings suggest that Ukraine’s country image has strengthened over time, and has been effective in delegitimizing the 2022 Russian invasion and securing strong support from the international community.

BackgroundThe problem of women and youths living on the street is a global phenomenon. It has created countless problems while they lived on the street; such as unwanted pregnancies, sexual exploitation and prostitution. It is a frequent observation to see women begging on the streets of major cities in Ethiopia having one or two babies by their sides. This study will give an in-depth understanding of the distressing and highly challenging problem among women on the street regarding pregnancy and related problems.ObjectiveTo explore pregnancy and sexual-related problems among women living on the street in Dire Dawa city, Eastern Ethiopia 2021.MethodsA community-based phenomenological qualitative study was conducted at Dire Dawa city. Data was collected from homeless women and Key informants through focus group discussion and in-depth interviews using a semi-structured tool aided by a voice recorder. Data were analyzed thematically using computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software Atlas.ti7. The thematic analysis with inductive approach goes through 6 steps; Familiarization, Coding, Generating themes, Reviewing themes, Defining and naming themes and Writing up.ResultWomen living on the street are more likely to experience physical abuse, sexual harassment, Sexual transmitted infection, unprotected sex and unwanted pregnancy. As a result, the fate of this pregnancy is abortion leads to high risk of getting health complications as most abortions are made in illegal and unsafe ways.ConclusionTeen pregnancy, STI, rape and unsafe abortion are the major concerns as it accompanied by their homelessness situation and abusive lifestyles. The regional health bureau needs to understand the extent of problem and plan to organize an awareness creation program on STI, risk of pregnancy and SRH services.