Metaphor Analysis with MAXQDA

In this guide, I show how Metaphors can be isolated from a text in MAXQDA for further analysis. (This guide is in German)

In dieser Kurzanleitung wird gezeigt, wie Metaphern in MAXqda aus einem Text isoliert werden können. Die zugrundeliegende Methode (ausfĂĽhrlich: Kruse/Biesel/Schmieder 2011) baut auf Rudolf Schmitts (1997; 2003) Vorschlägen zur handwerklich-analytischen Umsetzung des Metaphernkonzepts von Lakoff/Johnson (2003) auf. Eine sehr anschauliche Umsetzung mit MAXqda wurde bereits von Marsch (2007, Link) vorgestellt, welche allerdings ein zentrales Element – die Textfragmentierung – auĂźenvor lässt. Read the rest of this post »

June 10, 2011 · Christian Schmieder · No Comments
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Importing Texts from a Spreadsheet in MAXQDA

With the newest MAXQDA update it is possible to import texts and variables from an Excel spreadsheet in one step (you will find a more detailed guide on importing variables from a spreadsheet here). The Excel spreadsheet has to contain the rows ‘textgroup’ (this will determine the text’s document group in MAXQDA) and the row ‘textname’  (which will determine your text’s name). The following rows can contain the context of your respective texts – the column names will be transformed into code names, and the text in each row will automatically be coded accordingly.  Variables will also be imported – you have to indicate with a dollar sign (‘$’) that the row contains a variable – otherwise MAXQDA will import the variable as part of the texts. Read the rest of this post »

February 15, 2011 · Christian Schmieder · No Comments
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Exporting and (re)importing variables in MAXQDA

This guide demonstrates how variables can be exported and imported as Excel spreadsheets (*.xls-files) in MAXQDA 10 (make sure you are using a recently updated version:  “?”-menu -> “search for updates”).

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February 13, 2011 · Christian Schmieder · 2 Comments
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Creating & editing Screenshots on a PC

Screenshots (and video captures) can be very easily done with the free program “Jing” (download here). Jing lets you take screenshots of adjustable sizes with a few clicks, and you can do some basic editing directly in the program (add arrows & texts, etc.). There are great tutorials on how to start working with Jing here.
If you want to do more elaborate editing of your screenshots (and you don’t have photo editing software), you should look into “Snagit”, which I use for my tutorials. It’s made by the same company as Jing, but costs around 40 dollars. You can download a 30-day demo here.

January 29, 2011 · Christian Schmieder · Comments Closed
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Initial thoughts on interviews via Skype

If you are familiar with using Skype, you can use a recorder to directly record your conversations with other Skype users (you’ll find my guide on how to record Skype conversations here). Skype also lets you call phones around the world pretty cheaply if you buy their credit. In this post I have assembled a couple of initial methodological thoughts on recording Skype interviews. Read the rest of this post »

January 28, 2011 · Christian Schmieder · One Comment
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Recording phone conversations with Skype

Phone calls can be easily recorded if you conduct your phone interviews via Skype. There is a series of add-ons and programs which allow you to record phone conversations as well as conversations with other Skype users. You’ll find a commented list of Skype recorders here.
This guide will introduce you to the free “Mp3 Skype Recorder”, which – as the name suggests – saves your conversations as mp3 files. If you want to try out different programs: The guys from audiotranskription.de have created two excellent German video tutorials on using two other recorders, “wiretap” & “callgraph”. The tutorials are available here.

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January 27, 2011 · Christian Schmieder · No Comments
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Handling exported data in a word processor, Part 2

QDA software such as MAXqda and OpenCode enables you to export your text as a table (click here for MAXqda and OpenCode guides). In this guide, I will show how you can use these tables in Microsoft Word in order to create worksheets for working on paper and/or in Word. Read the rest of this post »

September 20, 2010 · Christian Schmieder · No Comments
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Handling exported data in a word processor, Part 1

In this guide I will demonstrate how you can create a convenient analysis worksheet from QDA software output – in this case from MAXqda 2010 and from OpenCode 3.4. The worksheet enables you to analyze your text on paper, and to organize results from an analysis group meeting clearly and conveniently.  Although this guide is tailored to MAXqda/OpenCode and Microsoft Word 2010, the same strategy can be applied to many QDA software and word processing bundles.

This is the first part of the guide, which deals with preparing your data for export. The second part guides you through formatting the worksheet – you can find it here. Read the rest of this post »

September 19, 2010 · Christian Schmieder · No Comments
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Working on screen, working on paper

“I think one DOES think with one’s hands. I think that’s why a keyboard is not a good place for me to think. Some people think very well on the keyboard; and I need this kind of a fidgeting of charcoal, scissors, or the tearing of something in my hand. As if there’s a different kind of brain that is controlling how THAT works. There’s an uncertainty of what you’re doing, an imprecision; so that what you do when you look at it is not KNOW something which you’re carrying out; but rather rely on recognizing something as it appears.”
William Kentridge in the PBS documentary “Anything is posssible” (2010, PBS art 21 series. Director: Charles Atlas).

Not all steps of analysis can be easily (or conveniently) undertaken in QDA software – depending of course on the program and methodological approach, but also on your personal preference of working with text. Many researchers feel awkward, or at least ‘different’ when they analyze data on screen, instead of working with a pencil and paper – I find this especially true for people who work very closely to their texts, doing for example very fine-grained, multi-layered analyses of spoken conversation. Read the rest of this post »

September 19, 2010 · Christian Schmieder · No Comments
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Running shoes don’t run, analysis software doesn’t analyze

The central analytic task in qualitative research – understanding the meaning of text – cannot be computerized […] (Kelle 1995: 3)

Whether because colleagues say so, whether it is implied by the software companies or whether it’s just a firm belief in today’s technology: Many people have high, yet very vague expectations when first approaching QDA software.

The biggest misconception concerning QDA software: That it does some kind of analysis (and who wouldn’t expect a program to actually DO something after having spent 700 dollars for it?). The sociologist Udo Kelle made it clear over 15 years ago in the first anthology dedicated to QDA software, and it’s still true: Qualitative data analysis software can’t do analysis for you. It does as much analysis as your running shoes run. It can surely aid the crafts aspect of analysis, but in the end of the day, QDA software is nothing but a brainless clerk. Read the rest of this post »

September 16, 2010 · Christian Schmieder · No Comments
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Freeware intro: OpenCode 3.4

OpenCode is developed by Klas-Göran SahlĂ©n at the Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine at UmeĂĄ University, Sweden. It runs under Windows 98, 2000, and XP (I have not tested it on Vista, and it seems not to run on my Windows 7 PC).  In order to run it you need to install Microsoft NetFramework as well. Both the NetFramework and OpenCode are available for free on the Health Department’s website (http://www.phmed.umu.se/english/divisions/epidemiology/research/open-code/).

OpenCode comes with an excellent handbook, but the following screenshots might give you a good first impression on the program. Read the rest of this post »

September 2, 2010 · Christian Schmieder · No Comments
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Do I need to spend 500 $ or more on QDA software?

If you check out the websites of the companies selling QDA software, you will come to the conclusion: Of course! I do I have to spend that kind of money, otherwise I can’t do the analysis I want to do. It is not surprising that you might get this impression – of course the companies want to sell their products. Read the rest of this post »

September 2, 2010 · Christian Schmieder · No Comments
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QDA software and Mac OS

A frequent first question from many researchers when it comes to choosing QDA software is: Does it run on my Mac? The short answer: it depends. Unfortunately, the big three commercial packages  (MAXqda, NVivo, Atlas.TI) and many freeware packages do not run natively on Mac OS or Linux.  Edit: A commercial software option running natively as well on macs  is the Hyperresearch software package. Also, the video analysis tool Transana runs as well under Windows as well as under Mac operating systems.

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August 29, 2010 · Christian Schmieder · No Comments
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First steps when choosing QDA software

Many people ask me which software they should use for their projects – but a question just as important is whether to use software or not. I  assembled a couple of questions that I find useful for making such a decision… Read the rest of this post »

August 16, 2010 · Christian Schmieder · No Comments
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