Preface to the NVivo-guide
NVivo is a qualitative data management program that differs from traditional quantitative analysis software by not offering clear-cut results Instead of relying on mathematical formulas, NVivo emphasizes the interpretive skills of the researcher, positioning itself not as an analytical tool but as a data-structuring and organizational platform It enables users to effectively organize, classify, and sort their qualitative data, ultimately enhancing the value derived from their information through a systematic approach to data handling.
NVivo is most effective when handling large datasets, making it essential to consider the extent of your data before investing time in its setup Generally, it's advisable to have a minimum of five 20-minute interviews for the software to provide significant benefits to your project.
NVivo offers significant advantages regardless of data size, particularly in documenting the analytical process of research, which enhances replicability—a common challenge in qualitative research Additionally, effectively using NVivo fosters a systematic approach to qualitative data analysis, helping researchers avoid the analytical pitfall of only recognizing anticipated results.
The advantages of qualitative analysis are contingent upon the quality of the collected data; poor interviews or inadequate transcriptions undermine the analysis For best practices in conducting and transcribing interviews, refer to a qualitative research textbook.
“An introduction to qualitative research” 1
This manual maintains a neutral stance regarding the choice of analytical approaches while focusing on the technical aspects of the NVivo program NVivo itself does not prescribe a specific analytical method, allowing for flexibility in analysis To enhance users' understanding of the program's underlying principles, the manual will also outline the analytical purposes of various applications within NVivo.
This manual provides an overview of NVivo's capabilities, followed by a practical guide through various phases of the analytical process using tutorial data Active reader participation is crucial for maximizing the manual's benefits, so it is recommended to follow all steps outlined in the upcoming chapters.
This manual offers a foundational overview of NVivo's capabilities, equipping you with essential skills to maximize the program's benefits While it does not cover all tools available in NVivo, it serves as a valuable starting point For a more comprehensive guide, additional resources can be provided.
1 Flick, Uwe (2009) An introduction to qualitative research, Sage
Lyn Richards’ extensive “Teach-yourself NVivo 8: the introductory tutorials” which can be requested for via email (analytics@asb.dk) or the Danish manual, “Guide til NVivo 8” 2
Please address any comments about errors, lacks or suggestions for improvements to the Analytics Group via analytics@asb.dk
2 Andersen, Lotte Bứgh and Anne Binderkrantz (2009) Guide til NVivo 8, Hans Reitzels Forlag
Introduction to NVivo
The Welcome Screen
Every time NVivo is launched, your initial page will be The Welcome Screen This page will display the previous projects that have been working on at this computer
If your project isn't listed under My Recent Projects, you can locate it by clicking the Open Project button at the bottom of the screen.
• Use the New Project-button in the bottom of the screen
• Type in a proper title and description of your project
• Notice that unless you specify otherwise your project will be saved under My Documents on your computer To select a more proper location, use the browse-button
• However, since we will be using an existing file in the walkthrough, you are advised not to click on OK in this instance.
The logic of the NVivo-interface
For a comprehensive guide to the program, access the 'Volunteering' tutorial file, typically located under My Recent Projects on the Welcome Screen If it's not visible, you can find it at C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\NVivo 8 Samples.
If you are using MS Outlook, the interface looks very familiar: It’s meant to do so! The entire screen is based on the same interface principles as Outlook
The screen has three basic interface areas: The Navigation view, the List view, and the Detail view
To recreate the same screen as in the picture
• Choose Sources in the Navigation
• Unfold the Internals-folder by clicking on the small ‘+’ and select the
• Double-click on the Non Volunteers
In the Navigation view you choose between different aspects and parts of your project This means that you choose between different types of operations
List view then displays the content of the given folder, and the more) given file(s)
In the interface, a clockwise hierarchy begins in the lower left corner, progressing upward to the folders and then to individual project elements, such as documents, nodes, or results in the detail view Keeping this simple hierarchy in mind will enhance your understanding of the layout.
The elements of the Navigation view
To get a deeper understanding of the interface
Navigation view follows o recreate the same screen as in the picture:
To navigate within NVivo, click the small ‘+’ to open the Focus Groups Non Volunteers document in List view, allowing you to explore various aspects of your project This interface enables you to select different operations and subfolders, displaying the content of the chosen folder The Detail view presents specific elements, such as documents, nodes, or results, illustrating a clockwise hierarchy that starts from the lower left and moves to the List view With time, you'll become familiar with the program's setup.
Navigation view o get a deeper understanding of the interface, a short description of the different main folders of the
The Focus Groups folder allows you to navigate various aspects of your project, including subfolders The interface features a clockwise hierarchy, starting from the lower left, where you can view singular elements such as documents, nodes, or results in the detail view This structured layout enhances your ability to manage and organize project components effectively.
, a short description of the different main folders of the
In Sources you store your data documents, media files, external links and memos It is, so to speak, your storage folder for all your original data
• Internals contains the different documents that you analyse in your project It can e.g be personal interviews, focus group interviews, project notes and photos
Externals in NVivo are used to include materials that you cannot or choose not to import, such as web page references Their primary purpose is to consolidate all relevant project materials in one location, regardless of the type of content.
Memos serve as a tool for organizing your thoughts, acting as a digital alternative to countless sticky notes They consist of documents that you have personally authored, allowing for a streamlined way to capture and manage your ideas effectively.
‘brilliant’ impulses that you have during you analysis
Explore various sources to access the content, and remember that you can easily close the document by clicking the small ‘x’ located in the top-right corner of the Detail View.
Nodes enable the organization and coding of material, making it easier to assess and understand data by serving as references to people, topics, or concepts The choice of words or text sections to use as nodes depends on individual preferences and theoretical foundations, allowing for personalized categorization and analysis.
Free nodes are independent codes that do not have a hierarchical relationship with other nodes They are commonly utilized during the open coding process, allowing for an exploratory analysis of data content Subsequently, these free nodes can be transformed into tree nodes for further organization and analysis.
Tree nodes are utilized in a hierarchical tree structure to explore subtopics within a broader topic They are particularly beneficial during focused coding when the codebook is already established A node containing sub-nodes is indicated by a small ‘+’ sign, which allows users to expand the node and view its minor nodes by clicking on it.
• Cases is a type of node which has the purpose of differentiating your respondents from each other
To effectively differentiate between various sources in NVivo, it is essential to code your cases, particularly during focus group interviews that involve multiple respondents Coding is also crucial when conducting several interviews with the same respondent, as case nodes help link different documents to that individual Additionally, cases enable the assignment of attributes, enhancing the organization and analysis of your data.
Queries empower you to interrogate your data, uncover patterns, and explore concepts that arise during your engagement with nodes While Sources and Nodes focus on data preparation and project setup, Queries represent the initial phase of your analysis In a comparison with SPSS, Queries can be likened to the various analytical operations available in that software However, it's essential to recognize the significant analytical work that occurs during the coding process as well.
The Queries-folder contains two elements:
1) Queries contain your operation commands You might compare this with your SPSS syntax
2) Results contain the output of these operation commands
Classifications allow for the inclusion of background information about cases, facilitating comparisons among various types of respondents For instance, you can focus on a specific demographic, such as a 30-39 year old Indian woman involved in volunteering By utilizing these classifications, you can analyze data through theoretical groups rather than individual respondents, enabling a more abstract and comprehensive analysis of your findings.
By opening the project casebook you can see an overview of the attributes your different cases possess The casebook can be open in two manners
• Right-click in the List view while being in the Attributes-folder under Classifications Here you can choose Open Casebook
• Alternatively, you can use the toolbar: Tools Casebook Open Casebook
This guide will shift to a practical approach, providing step-by-step instructions on essential operations within the NVivo interface While it won't cover every feature of the program, it will focus on the most critical functions By the end of the guide, you will be equipped to actively and effectively utilize NVivo in your research projects.
Importing and Preparing Data in a New Project
Importing a Document into Your Project
To maintain organization and structure in our data, we will first create a dedicated folder for our individual interviews before importing an interview with the respondent, Fredric.
• Click on Sources in the Navigation view
• Right-click on the Internals-folder and select New Folder
• Give the new folder an appropriate name, e.g ‘Single Interviews’, and a short description, e.g
‘Transcriptions of interviews with singular respondents’
• Likewise, create a folder for ‘Focus Group Interviews’
Now we are ready to start importing data into our project
• Select the folder ‘Single Interviews’
• Right-click in the List view and select Import Internals
• Find the interview with ‘Fredric’ in the relevant folder by clicking the Browse-button (use the path stated above)
The Create Description feature generates a brief summary of a file based on its first paragraph, which may not always be ideal due to the potential inclusion of irrelevant details Nevertheless, in this instance, it successfully creates a coherent and relevant description.
The Code sources for new cases under the 'option' feature allow you to designate all files as part of the 'Fredric' respondent case, eliminating the need for manual coding later Once the file is imported, you can easily access the 'Fredric' case-node by clicking on Nodes in the Navigation View, selecting Cases, and double-clicking on 'Fredric'.
• Click OK to import the ‘Fredric’-interview
The Document Properties window displays the suggested file name, a description of the file, and the designated storage location for the file.
• Click OK if you do not wish to alter anything
The 'Fredric' data is now visible in the List view under the 'Single Interviews' folder, and the 'Fredric' case has been successfully saved in the Nodes folder, making the file ready for use.
Try going through the same procedure with the ‘Anna’-file
NVivo now supports the import of PDF files, automatically converting them into text, similar to the process for Word documents However, this feature can be resource-intensive, so it’s advisable to save your project before importing large PDF files to prevent potential program shutdowns due to system limitations.
As you prep your own data for import into NVivo, notice that if you mark you interview questions as
‘headings’ in Word, the program can distinguish between questions and answers It is therefore advisable to do so.
Importing several documents into your project
For projects with numerous files, the process outlined in section 3.1 can be cumbersome; however, you can streamline your workflow by importing multiple files simultaneously.
• Select the folder ‘Single Interviews’
• Right-click in the List view and select Import Internals
• Click the Browse-button and locate the relevant data-folder
• While keeping the ctrl-button down, click once on the ‘Bernadette’-, ‘Grace’- and ‘Ken’-files and Open these files
• Import the files as in section 3.1
When importing multiple files, you won't have access to the Document Properties during the import process, but you can easily view these properties later by right-clicking on each individual file.
Importing Externals
Externals, as discussed in section 2.3.1, refer to files or webpages that are not imported into the project but can be accessed through links in the Externals folder In this section, we will demonstrate how to create a link to ASB's webpage.
• Right-click in the List view and select New External Be careful not to click on an existing file but rather on the List view-screen itself
• Name and describe the link in the General-tab, e.g ‘ASB’s webpage’ and ‘Contains information about Aarhus School of Business’
• Switch to the External-tab
• Select Web link in the Type-option and type in the ASB-web address
When you double-click the newly created file in the Externals folder, it opens an empty file because you have only created a shortcut to the webpage, not imported the actual content To access the webpage, right-click the file in the List view and select "Open External File."
Adding Attributes to your Cases
Incorporating attributes, or background information, into your cases allows for the analysis of various case types rather than focusing solely on individual respondent cases This approach enhances the abstraction level of your data analysis.
If you didn't utilize the Code sources in the new cases under the option during the import process, you can still do so afterward Refer to the section on FIND SEKTIONSNUMMER for guidance This method is also applicable when importing a focus group interview with multiple cases.
We will develop an attribute to analyze the respondent's sex, as it is intriguing to explore how opinions on volunteering may vary based on gender.
• Click on Classifications in the Navigation view and select the Attributes folder
• Right-click in the List view and select New Attribute
• Fill out the Name and Description of the attribute, e.g ‘Sex’ and ‘The gender of the given respondent’
• Switch to the Values-tab
• Click on the Add-button and type in ‘Male’ in the Value space that has appeared
• Repeat the procedure with ‘Female’ and click OK
The attribute ‘Sex’ has now been created, but we have yet to assign the attribute to our respondents This can be done in two ways
• Locate the ‘Bernadette’-case by clicking on Nodes in the Navigation view and hereafter cases
• Right-click on the ‘Bernadette’-case and select the Case Properties-option
• Open the Attribute Values-tab and switch from ‘Unassigned’ to ‘Female’
If you wish to assign attributes to several cases at once, a quicker way is to open the project Casebook
• Choose Tools in the tool bar and select Open Casebook under the Casebook-option
• Attribute the remaining cases with the correct gender
In this section, we explored how to import essential data into our project and differentiate our respondents through case distinctions Additionally, we assigned theoretical or practical trademarks to these cases, facilitating a more effective data analysis.
Creating and Using Nodes
Coding via free nodes
In this article, we will demonstrate a brief coding segment from an interview with the respondent, 'Phoebe.' It's important to note that the coding provided is not definitive answers, as proper coding is influenced by your theoretical framework, research questions, and individual preferences The examples given here serve solely to highlight the technical aspects of the coding process in NVivo.
We will code the first question in the ‘Phoebe’-interview (Q.1)
• Highlight the first question in the interview as well as the answer to this question
• Right-click on the marked text and select At New Node under the Code Selection-option
• Give the node a proper name and description, e.g ‘Time consumption’ and ‘How the respondent spends his/her time’
• Notice that the node is saved under the Free Nodes-folder
• Try to double-click on the new node and see the content
Alternatively you can use the tool bar in your coding process To illustrate this, we will code the second question about the respondent’s feelings towards her time consumption
• Type in a proper title of the text section in the empty box in the tool bar, e.g ‘Feelings toward time consumption’ (see the red square on the picture below)
• Select the location of the node – try and place it under Tree Nodes
• Hit the Enter-key or click on the -button.
In vivo coding
In vivo coding is a qualitative research method that utilizes exact words or phrases from participants' responses as nodes for analysis The term 'in vivo' is derived from Latin, meaning 'within the living,' highlighting its focus on authentic expressions from respondents This technique is particularly valuable when participants use metaphors or expressions that provide significant insights related to the research question.
• Open the interview with ‘Fredric’
• Highlight the phrase ‘real work’
• Right click on the marked text and select the ‘Code In Vivo’-option
• NVivo will automatically store the new node under ‘Free Nodes’
If you wish to code the entire section which the in vivo code characterize, see section 5.3.1 for a description of the Coding Query.
Tree Nodes
After finishing the exploratory phase of coding, it's essential to organize your nodes by various topics Utilizing Tree Nodes allows you to establish a hierarchy within your nodes, enhancing their structure and clarity.
To see how this can be done, we will transfer our previous nodes into Tree Nodes
• Open the folder ‘Tree Nodes’ within the ‘Nodes’ category
• Right-click in the List View and select ‘New Tree Node’
• Name the node ‘Time consumption tree node’ and click OK
We have now created a folder in which we wish to store the two nodes regarding time consumption
• Mark the node ‘Time Consumption’ by clicking at it once in the List View in the ‘Free Nodes’-folder
• Either right-click on the node and select ‘Copy’ or simply press ctrl-c
• Open the ‘Tree Nodes’-folder and mark the ‘Time consumption tree node’-node
• Press ctrl-v and accept that the node will be pasted as a Tree Node
• Notice that a small plus-sign has appeared next to the ‘Time consumption tree node’ If you press the plus sign, the ‘Time Consumption’-node will appear
• Do the same thing with ‘Feelings toward time consumption’
If you possess a comprehensive coding list with a natural hierarchy, you can directly create Tree Nodes instead of transferring Free Nodes to the Tree Nodes folder This process follows the same method outlined in section 4.1, with the key distinction being that you need to indicate that the node should be saved in the Tree Nodes folder.
Node content, highlights, and coding stripes
Both during and after your coding process, you may wish to get an overview of the sections that you have coded This can be done in several ways
After finishing your coding process, it's common to want to quickly view the data within a specific node to gain an immediate understanding of its content To achieve this, you can easily access the node of interest.
• Open the folder ‘Tree Nodes’ within the ‘Nodes’ category
• Double-click on a given node and the content of the node should be displayed Notice you may have to click on small ‘+’-signs I order to see all your nodes
You have the option to either print the node's content for your final analysis or advance to the Query stage in NVivo, as detailed in section 5.
Highlights are a valuable tool for tracking the amount of text you have coded and gaining an overview of the sections you have worked on By marking coded text in brown, highlights help you determine if you've already coded certain parts and allow you to identify areas with varying levels of coding intensity.
• Open the ‘Phoebe’-interview in the Single interviews-folder
• Open the View-tab and select Coding for Selected Items under the Highlight-option
Avoid selecting "Coding for All Nodes," as this will highlight the entire test This occurs because the text has been coded as a single Case, and choosing this option will include the Case-node in the selection.
To enhance your experience, check the boxes for Free Nodes and Tree Nodes folders on the left side of the screen You can also select more specific sections based on your interests.
• You can now see that the first two questions of the ‘Phoebe’-interview has been highlighted
If you wish to remove the Highlights, simply select None under the Highlights-option
The Highlights feature lacks the ability to indicate which Node is utilized in a specific section and does not reveal if multiple Nodes have been used for the same section However, Coding Stripes can effectively address these limitations.
• Open the View-tab and select Nodes Recently Coding under the Coding Stripes-option
This feature displays a sidebar on the right side of the screen, highlighting color-coded markings for individual nodes within the selected text section Hovering over a Coding Stripe reveals additional information.
Clicking once on a Coding Stripe will highlight the coded section of the Node, while double-clicking will fully expand the entire Node, revealing all 20 pieces of information.
The Coding Density bar on the screen tells you how many times a given text section has been coded The darker the color, the more codings
In this example, the "Coding-option" has been chosen to display the most recent codings If you prefer to view specific Nodes, you can opt for the "Selected Item" option, similar to the functionality available with Highlights.
Queries – Answering your Research Questions through Systematic Inquiries
Text Search Query
A Text Search Query allows you to search for specific keywords within your data, making it an essential tool for efficiently locating information related to your interests By utilizing well-defined keywords, you can streamline your search process and enhance your data analysis.
The following example wishes to explore what is being said in connection with the words ‘passion’ and
• Open the Queries-folder within the Queries menu
• Right-click in the List view and select Text Search Query within the New Query-option
• Write the word ‘passion’ in the Search for-box
The Special-button enables users to perform advanced searches using multiple keywords By utilizing the OR-option, you can find instances where either 'passion' or 'commit' is mentioned Additionally, adding an asterisk (*) after your search terms allows for variations of the words, expanding your search results to include different endings.
To conduct a focused search, choose the "Selected items" option under the "Of" dropdown menu and click the "Select" button This allows you to narrow your search to the Internal folder by marking it with a checkmark Additionally, you can further refine your search by selecting specific documents or folders within the Internal folder if desired.
Switch to the Query Options tab to define how your search results will be handled For now, select the Preview Only setting, with additional options discussed in later sections.
To add your Query command to your project, simply check the "Add To Project" option located at the top-left of the Text Search Query This is particularly useful when generating a preview of your search By selecting this option, a third tab will appear, prompting you to provide a name and description for your Query.
• Click Run to execute your Query
• Examine the results of your Query
One potential issue with this operation is that respondents may discuss the topic of interest without employing the specific theoretical terminology Consequently, while your Text Search Query is efficient, it may yield incomplete results This underscores the importance of dedicating time to properly code your data.
Word Frequency Query
This query enables a quantitative content analysis by identifying the most frequently used words in your dataset For example, if you've gathered over 100 articles from Børsen, this tool can help you determine which companies are mentioned most often Similarly, if you have collected descriptions from more than 100 companies, it can reveal the most common buzzwords used.
To execute the operation, simply specify the data for your query, which is located in the same section as the Text Search Query (refer to section 5.1).
Coding Query
The Coding Query is an effective tool for posing questions related to your coding projects By incorporating all pertinent information from your data, these queries facilitate a thorough examination of your data set.
It is possible both to do simple and advanced Coding Queries and an example with both types will be illustrated in the following
In this example, we will perform a query to display the interview sections that include the Tree node labeled 'for children.' Rather than simply showing the node's content, we will create a new node that encompasses the full context in which the original node was created.
• Open the Queries-folder within the Queries menu
• Right-click in the List view and select Coding Query within the New Query-option
• Click the Select-button at the Node-option and choose the ‘for children’ node
• Click OK o Notice: You can also specify your search with one criterion from your attributes (e.g search only within the cases that belong to the age group 20-29 year olds)
To define the scope of your search under the In-option, select "Selected Items" and click the "Select" button to specify the query location Ensure to check the "Internals" option to include it in your search parameters.
• Switch to the Query Options-tab
• Change the Results Option from Preview Only to Create Results as New Node to indicate that you wish to save the results of the query as a node
• By clicking the Select-button at the Location-option you can decide where to place your new node
It can be placed under Results, Free nodes, Tree nodes or even under Case Try placing it under Free Nodes for the sake of practice
• The Spread coding-option defines what is to be coded By selecting Custom Context and afterwards clicking on the Specify-button you can define what is to be coded
• Select Surrounding paragraph and click OK to return to the Coding Query- dialog box
• Choose whether or not you wish to save the Query command and, if you wish to save it, give the query a proper name (hint: Add to Project)
• Explore the results of your query
In the Advanced tab, you can enhance your Coding Query by adding multiple criteria, allowing you to analyze the perspectives of specific respondent groups on particular topics For instance, you can investigate the views of 50-59-year-old men with high education levels who have never participated in volunteer work regarding the motivations of volunteers.
The following example will only extend the example from section 5.3.1 with one criterion, but the approach can be extended to include more criterions
• Open a new Coding Query, cf section 5.3.1
• Switch to the Advanced-tab
• Click the Select-button and choose the ‘for children’ node
• Click the Add to List-button to transfer the node-criteria to the criteria list
• Switch from All Selected Nodes to Any Case Where to be able to select from the list of attributes instead of list of nodes
• Click the Select-button and choose ‘female’ within the ‘gender’-attribute
• Click the Add to List-button to transfer the attribute-criteria to the criteria list
• Define the scope of your search via the In-option Often, this will relate to a given number of documents in your Internals-folder
• Explore the results of your query
The Coding Query serves as a robust tool for data exploration, enabling you to conduct complex inquiries that would be challenging to perform manually However, it is crucial to interpret the results with care, as the effectiveness of your queries depends on the quality of your coding process Remember, the strength of your search is only as good as the coding behind it.
Matrix Coding Query
The Matrix Coding Query allows you to create a table that compares different groups in your data
Furthermore, it can be seen as the first step in your process of developing a qualitative display that can tell the overall ‘story’ of your data
In the following example we will explore the following (made up) research question: does there exist a gender difference in one’s personal goals for doing volunteer work?
• Open a new Matrix Coding Query by right-clicking in the List view and choosing New Query
• Notice that there exists both a Rows- and Columbs-tab which defines what is to be placed on which axis
• Click the Select-button and open the Tree nodes-folder
• Click the ‘+’ at ‘personal goals’ and make a check marker at all the child nodes under ‘personal goals’ Click OK
• Use the Add to List-button to transfer the specified nodes to your definition of the row categories
• Switch to the Columns-tab
• Click the Select-button and open the Attributes-folder
• Click the ‘+’ at ‘Gender’ and make a check marker at the child attributes ‘Female’ and ‘Male’ Click
• Decide whether or not you wish to save the query command (a good idea)
Right-clicking on the matrix provides various options, including the Transpose option to switch the two axes' content The Matrix Cell Content option lets you choose the desired results in the matrix, such as sources, cases, or words Additionally, the Matrix Cell Shading option enables you to visually represent coding density using colors.
Double-clicking on matrix cells allows you to access and analyze specific data, facilitating comparisons between groups Additionally, the output can be copied into Word for further refinement, enabling the creation of a qualitative display, as viewing the entire matrix content at once is not feasible.
Compound Query
This Query enables the combination of two distinct queries, which can include a Text Search Query paired with a Coding Query, two Text Search Queries, or two Coding Queries.
If you master the respective singular queries, you will not have any problem combining them