Working with MS Word: A qualitative analysis workshop

Using the simple and obvious

Jenna Condie | j.m.condie@salford.ac.uk @jennacondie

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MS Word: The Simple and obvious

• Already familiar with it• Transcribed data into it• No import/export issues• On every computer I work on• Everyone has it so can share data easily• Writing up thesis on it

PsyPAG 2011

What type of data? What type of analysis?

What brings you here?

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Armed with your existing

knowledge and skills

on MS word,

try some analysis

on this data…

Well, let’s have a goh

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• Highlight function to distinguish different codes/sections using colour.  

• Track changes, particularly the comments feature to include memos, make notes, and record interpretations.

• Referencing functions such as table of contents, table of figures, indexes and footnotes to organise themes or interpretative repertoires   

• Bolding and italicising text, using different fonts and sizes, underlining, line spacing, columns, numbered lists and bullet points etc… 

Some features…

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Hints & Tips from TwitterHints & Tips from Twitter

@amyfielden83: Very obvious one, but using the highlight function in various colours to distinguish codes! @amyfielden83: Comment function is great for initial coding, and note taking on transcripts!

Have you had a fight with MS Word before?

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A transcription strategy is a must! Make these decisions early on so writing up is easier.

Tips

•Start new paragraph for every speaker**

•What font?

•What size?

•Line numbers?

•Line spacing?

Preparation and transcription

Click…

Creating a coding document**

Data sorted Data sorted

The start of your coding documentThe start of your coding document

CodingCoding

• Add columns for codes

Also useful to add a column to number the data so it’s easier to find

CodingCoding

Numbers useful for linking excerpts

some things might work better as comments (track changes)

Highlight column, click on numbering

Table of codes Table of codes (authorities)(authorities)• Alphabetical listing• Shortcut (alt+shift+I)• Hide codes (ctrl+shift+8)

• Insert table of authorities

Add categoriese.g. Level 1, Level 2, interpretative repertoires, canonical narratives

Other referencing Other referencing functionsfunctions

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Keeping the data wholeKeeping the data whole• Narrative and discursive approaches

Could use table of contents for sequential list

Track changes

Highlighting, font, bold, italicsetc

Flickr: osde8info

More complexMS

Excel, Access

NVivo8 ATLAS.

ti

Visual/audio (see Hahn 2008)

Easy life!

Skill many people

already have

Some very useful resourcesSome very useful resources

• Hahn, C. (2008) Doing Qualitative Research Using Your Computer, A practical Guide, London: Sage

• La Pelle, N. (2004) Simplifying Qualitative Data Analysis Using General Purpose Software Tools, Field Methods, 16, p. 85 – 108

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Working with MS Word: A qualitative analysis workshop

Using the simple and obvious

Jenna Condie | j.m.condie@salford.ac.uk @jennacondie