NVivo Software – A Qualitative Research And Data Analysis Tool:

New User Tutorial

Created Through a CMU Faculty Insight Team Grant by

Joanne Hopper Bradley van Eeden-Moorefield

Sarah Marshall Chris Latty

Michael Lorenzen Timothy Otteman

What is NVivo? NVivo is a powerful software tool created by QSR International to assist qualitative researchers with coding data, making sense of information, identifying and exploring theories, and creating visual representations of findings.

Why NVivo? No other software created to date has the flexible, comprehensive features qualitative researches need to efficiently and comprehensively analyze data.

How do I use NVivo? Several resources exist to help you use NVivo software, including on-line support, embedded instructions and help features. This tutorial guides you through:

Simple NVivo applications such as creating documents, importing documents, creating nodes, coding into nodes, running basic queries, identifying attributes;

Advanced NVivo applications such as auto coding and creating models; and

Definitions important to effectively use NVivo.

NVivo Definitions

NodeA node is used to identify a theme, characteristic, or idea. Nodes link to the text. There are two kinds of nodes, Free and Tree: Free nodes – Have no relationships. They represent big ideas, and may be used initially to begin sorting information.Tree nodes – Are hierarchical and related in some identifiable manner. Tree nodes can be Parent or Child.

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CasebookA casebook is a table that holds quantitative data used to assign attributes.1. To open a casebook, click on Tools. 2. Click on Casebook. 3. Select Open Casebook.

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SetSets are temporary folders or shortcuts to share work or group files. To create:1. Click the Sets folder.2. On the Project menu, click New Set. The New Set dialog box is displayed.3. Enter a name for the set in the Name field. Add Description and click OK.

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Simple NVivo Applications

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Creating a New Document1. Find the tools to create a new document located under Sources.2. Create a document for any source of information. Identify each as one voice.3. Right click below list. In dropdown, select New Document.4. In New Document popup, add Name and Description. Click OK to save.5. New document will appear.

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Importing documentsThe importing feature is used to import any documents.1. In Sources, click on Documents to reveal list. 2. In white space below document list, right click to reveal dropdown menu. 3. Select Import Documents from dropdown menu.4. In Import Documents popup, select path with Browse function. Click OK.

Creating a Free NodeA node is a function used to identify a theme, characteristic, or idea.1. To create a free node, click on Nodes.2. Click on Free Nodes.3. In white space, right click to reveal drop down menu.4. Click on New Free Node. A new menu box will appear.5. In the menu box, add node Name, Description, and click OK.

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Creating a Tree NodeTree nodes are organized in hierarchical structure from general to specific. 1. To create a Tree Node, click on Nodes and then Tree Nodes. 2. Right click in white space. In dropdown menu, select New Tree Node.3. In popup menu, add title in Name space. Add Description. Click OK.

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Find Sources/NodesThis feature is used to find sources/projects by key words in the name. 1. In Sources menu, identify the Look For bar in the toolbar.2. Enter the item name or key word in the Look For field.3. Identify the source or folder in the Search In drop down box. 4. Click Find Now to run the search.

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Adding a New Parent Code While Coding This is used to label passages with coding for New, Current or Existing Nodes. 1. In Sources, Documents, select target document to code. 2. Highlight the target passage you wish to code. Right click to reveal dropdown.3. Select Code in the dropdown box.4. Select your choice of Existing Nodes, New Node, or Current Node.

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Adding a New Child Node While Coding in Tree Nodes1. To add a new child node, select Nodes menu, then Tree Nodes.2. In the Tree Nodes list, right click on the desired parent node.3. Select New Tree Node. A descriptor box will appear.4. In descriptor box add the Name of new node and Description. Click OK.

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Advanced NVivo Applications

Auto Coding1. From Sources select Documents.2. Select Code from toolbar. Then in dropdown, select Autocode.3. Choose level of Heading. Then select Existing Node or Create New Node.4. Choose Select. In Select Project Item popup, Select item from nickname. 5. Click OK and return text. Highlight text to be coded.

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Exporting Codes1. In Nodes menu, open Tree Nodes. In white space at bottom, right click.2. Select Export from popup, and select Export List.3. Name and save as an Excel file. (Nodes will be converted to Excel.)

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Text Searches or QueriesThis feature is used when searching for a word or phrase.1. Click on Queries. Right click on the white space.2. Select New Query and Text Search.3. Select Query Options tab.4. Select Spread to Surrounding Paragraphs in dropdown.

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Text Searches or Queries (Continued)Continue the text search by following these steps:1. Select Add to Project to save the query.2. Enter query name in the Name box, and add a Description. 3. Select Text Search Criteria tab. At popup, enter desired search text in Search For. Select Run.

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Results of Text Search

Attributes1. In Navigation view, click the Classifications button.2. The Attributes folder will appear. Click Attributes to reveal list. 3. Click the New button. In the dropdown menu, select Attribute in this Folder.4. In the New Attribute popup, enter Name, Description, and click OK.

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Connect Attributes to Documents in a Casebook1. Open the target Casebook by selecting Tools, Casebook, Open Casebook.2. In main toolbar, click New and select Attribute.3. In New Attribute popup, Name attribute, add Description and click OK.

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Creating Literature Reviews in NVivo1. Save article as HTML. Paste into a Word document for transfer into NVivo.2. Import document as with any import.3. Document can then be coded.

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Creating Models and Illustrating Relationships

Creating a Program-Generated Model1. Select Models menu. 2. Right click in white space under Models and select New Model in popup box.3. In popup, add desired Name. Add Description and click OK.

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Adding Project Items to Program-Generated Model1. Select Models.2. Right click in white space under Models. Select Add Project Items in popup.3. In Select Project Items, click on items you want represented in the model.4. Click OK.

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Example of Program-Generated Model

Creating A New Self-Generated Model1. Select Models.2. Right click in white space and select New Model from popup.3. Name the new model in popup. Add a Description. Then click OK.

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Creating A New Self-Generated Model (Continued)1. Drag and click desired shapes.2. Right click on shape to select Shape/Connector Properties. 3. Format (fill, lines, font to change color, etc). Click OK.

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Opening and Enlarging Models1. Click on Models. Double click on target model. 2. Enlarge by selecting View and Zoom. 3. In Zoom popup, choose Magnification size. Click OK.

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Enlarged Model Shown at 150%

Naming Shapes1. Right click on shape to be named. 2. In dropdown, select Shape/connector properties.3. In Shape Properties popup, add Name and Description. Click OK.

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Connecting shapes1. Click on the first shape. Hold Control button and click on other shape(s).2. Right click and select New Connector. Select preferred directional connector. 3. To reverse direction of connector, right click on it. Select Reverse Direction.

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Adding Name to Connector 1. Right click on connector. Select Shape/Connector Properties from popup.2. Enter Name and Description in Connector Properties box. Click OK.

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Modifying Layout 1. To modify layout, right click on grid space and select Layout from dropdown. 2. Choose Layout style (directed, circular, etc.). Click OK.

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Example of Modified Layout: DirectedMinimum connector length: 10

Exporting Models to Word1. Right click in grid, and choose Select All from dropdown. 2. Select Control key and “C” to copy model. 3. Open a new Microsoft Word document.4. Select Control key and “V” to paste complete model into Word. Save.

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Example of Model Saved in Microsoft Word

NVivo Support

Embedded Support

First line support - When in doubt, right click. Many drop downs function intuitively.

Help function – This is embedded in the software and offers answers to many common questions.

Search tab – Under this tab, you can search for help on specific topics and functions.

NVivo User Forum

Register free at forums.qsrinternational.com - Many functions and applications are discussed on-line in this support forum.

This NVivo software tool was developed through a FIT grant from Central Michigan University.

November 2006