An inductive approach to thematic analysis means that you aim to ‘explore’ your data without expectations of what you will find. These codes can be represented by things called ‘Nodes’ in NVivo, which can then be ordered in hierarchies (to represent themes and subthemes).Ĭodes can be generated ‘inductively’ or ‘deductively’, and ultimately this approach determines whether your overall approach to the thematic analysis or content analysis is ‘inductive’ or ‘deductive’. Themes and subthemes don’t just ‘appear’ after having viewed your data once or twice, regardless of whether you use NVivo, pen and paper, or some other format you’ll need to generate and refine working ‘codes’ (meaningful commonalities in your data relevant to your research question).

10 interview transcripts in Word document or PDF form). In NVivo, your data files are imported as your ‘Sources’ (e.g. NVivo is invaluable when managing and ‘coding’ conversational transcripts (such as interviews, focus groups, or forum discussions) for thematic analysis. interview, focus group, or case study transcripts, open-ended survey responses, internet forum discussion threads) and thematic analysis or content analysis methods are most common in qualitative or mixed-methods research projects. How you use NVivo really depends on the qualitative method and type of data you intend to use. The videos below introduce the work area and concepts for Windows (6:11') and Mac (5:45') users. Launch NVivo via the vLab First-time users For instructions on how to access the vLab, head to the vLab page here. NVivo is accessed via the Virtual Laboratory (vLab). Start thinking, reading, generating ideas Discuss your research ideas with your supervisorĪ. The article concludes that while qualitative data analysis software, such as NVivo, will not do the analysis for the researcher, it can make the analytical process more flexible, transparent and ultimately more trustworthy.C. The article proposes a multi-level coding approach during the analysis of news texts that combines quantitative and qualitative elements, allowing the researcher to move back and forth in coding and between analytical levels.

Following a brief discussion of the key characteristics, advantages and limitations of qualitative data analysis software, the article describes a qualitative content analysis of 230 newspaper articles, conducted to determine international media perceptions of New Zealand's environmental performance in connection with climate change and carbon emissions. Using NVivo as an example, it illustrates how software tools can facilitate analytical flexibility and how they can enhance transparency and trustworthiness of the qualitative research process. This article offers a step-by-step description of how qualitative data analysis software can be used for a qualitative content analysis of newspaper articles.

Using nvivo for content analysis