Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software
Computer-assisted (or aided) qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) offers tools that assist with qualitative research such as transcription analysis, coding and text interpretation, recursive abstraction, content analysis, discourse analysis, grounded theory methodology, etc.
Computer-assisted (or aided) qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) offers tools that assist with qualitative research such as transcription analysis, coding and text interpretation, recursive abstraction, content analysis, discourse analysis,[1] grounded theory methodology, etc.
Definition
[edit]CAQDAS is used in psychology, marketing research, ethnography, public health and other social sciences. The CAQDAS networking project lists the following tools a CAQDAS[2] program should have:
- Content searching tools
- Code grouping tools[3]
- Linking tools
- Mapping or networking tools
- Query tools
- Alternative visual representation tools
- Writing and annotation tools
Comparison of CAQDAS software
[edit]| Application | Type | License | Source | Last Release | Analyses | OS Supported | Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aquad | Client | Free – GPL | Open | 2017-02 | Text, Audio, Video, Graphics | Windows | Coding, Sequence Analysis, Exploratory Data Analysis |
| Atlas.ti | Client | Proprietary | Closed | 2022-07[4] | Text, Audio, Video, Graphic, Social Networks | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Cloud (web-based) | Coding, Aggregation, Query, Visualisation |
| Cassandre | Web-based/server | Free – GPL | Open | 2018-10-09 | Text | All (java-based) | Coding |
| CLAN | Client | Free – GPL | Open | 2019-06-10 | Text | Windows, macOS, Linux | Coding |
| Coding Analysis Toolkit (CAT) | Web-based | Free – GPL | Open | 2014-06-28[5] | Text | All (web browser) | Coding |
| Compendium | Client | Free – LGPL | Open | 2014-02 | Text | All (java-based) | Coding |
| Dovetail | Web-based | Proprietary | Closed | 2024-10-14 | Text, Audio, Video | All (web browser) | Coding, Query, Visualisation |
| Dedoose | Client | Proprietary | Closed | 2022-06-07[6] | Text, Audio, Video | All (web browser) | Coding, Query, Visualisation, Statistical Tools |
| ELAN | Client | Free – GPL | Open | 2018-12-12[7] | Audio, Video | Windows, macOS, Linux | Coding |
| KH Coder | Client | Free – GPL | Open | 2015-12-29[8] | Text | Windows, macOS, Linux | |
| flowres.io | Web-based | Closed | 2022-05-25[9] | Text, Audio, Video | All (web browser); Zoom, Teams, Meet integration | Coding, Transcription, Query, Visualisation, AI-assisted analysis | |
| MAXQDA | Client | Proprietary | Closed | 2019-02-05 | Text, audio, video, pictures, webpages, social networks | Windows, macOS | Coding, Aggregation, Query, Visualisation, Statistical Tools |
| NetMiner | Client | Proprietary | Closed | 2026-02[10] | Text | Windows, macOS | Word Extraction, Query, Text Network, Statistical Tools, Visualisation |
| NVivo | Client | Proprietary | Closed | 2023-04[11] | Text, audio, video, pictures, webpages | Windows, macOS | Coding, Aggregation, Query, Visualisation |
| QDAcity | Web-based | Proprietary | Closed | 2026-04-15 | Text, Audio, PDF | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux | Coding |
| QDA Miner | Client | Proprietary | Closed | 2016-11 | Windows | ||
| QDA Miner Lite | Client | Proprietary | Closed | 2017-01-12 | Text | Windows | Coding |
| Qiqqa | Client | Proprietary | Closed | 2016-09 | Windows, Android | ||
| QualCoder | Client | Free – MIT | Open | 2026-01-19[12] | Text, audio, video, PDF, pictures | Windows, macOS, Linux | Coding, Aggregation, Query, Visualisation |
| Quantitative Discourse Analysis Package (qdap) (R package) | Client | Free – GPL | Open | 2019-01-02[13] | Text | Windows, macOS, Linux | Word extracting, statistical analysis, visualization |
| Quirkos | Client / Web-based | Proprietary | Closed | 2025-01[14] | Text | Windows, macOS, Linux,[15] All (web browser) | Coding, Query, Visualisation |
| RQDA (R package) | Client | Free – GPL | Open | 2018-03[16] | Text | Windows, macOS, Linux | Coding, Aggregation, Query, Visualisation |
| Taguette | Client / Web-based | Free – BSD | Open | 2025-11-10[17] | Text | Windows, macOS, Linux | Coding |
| Transana | Client | Proprietary, used to be GPL[18] | Closed | 2017-11[19] | Text, Audio, Video | Windows, macOS | Coding |
| XSight | Client | Proprietary | Closed | 2006 (abandoned) | Windows |
Project Exchange Format
[edit]In 2019, the Rotterdam Exchange Format Initiative (REFI) launched a new open exchange standard for qualitative data called QDA-XML,[20] however, the Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis (CAQDAS) Network Project had been formally established in 1994.[2] The aim is to allow users to bring coded qualitative data from one software package to another. Support was initially adopted by Atlas.ti, QDA Miner, Quirkos and Transana, and has since been implemented into Dedoose, MAXQDA, NVivo and more.[21] Although this was not the first standard to be proposed, it was the first to be implemented by more than one software package, and came as the result of a collaboration between vendors and community representatives from the research community. Previously there was very little capability to bring data in from other software packages.
Training
[edit]The CAQDAS Network Project hosts events on the use of CAQDAS packages for qualitative and mixed-methods analysis. They include:[2]
- fee-based in-person short courses
- open-registration Webinars designed to raise awareness
- open-registration Webinars that are methodological or pedagogical in nature
- podcasts
Pros and cons
[edit]Such software helps to organize, manage and analyse information.[22] The advantages of using this software include saving time, managing huge amounts of qualitative data, having increased flexibility, having improved validity and auditability of qualitative research, and being freed from manual and clerical tasks. Concerns include increasingly deterministic and rigid processes, privileging of coding, and retrieval methods; reification of data, increased pressure on researchers to focus on volume and breadth rather than on depth and meaning, time and energy spent learning to use computer packages, increased commercialism, and distraction from the real work of analysis.[23]
See also
[edit]- Comparison of survey software
- Multimethodology
- Computer Assisted Mixed Methods Research Analysis Software
- Qualitative economics
- Qualitative marketing research
- Qualitative psychological research
- Quantitative research
- Sampling (case studies)
- Sensemaking
References
[edit]- ^ Paulus, Trena M.; Lester, Jessica Nina (2016). "ATLAS.ti for conversation and discourse analysis studies". International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 19 (4): 405–428. doi:10.1080/13645579.2015.1021949. S2CID 144482072.
- ^ a b c "CAQDAS networking project | University of Surrey". www.surrey.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "Analytic tasks and CAQDAS tools | University of Surrey". www.surrey.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ "Updates". ATLAS.ti – The Qualitative Data Analysis & Research Software. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- ^ "Coding Analysis Toolkit". 28 June 2014.
- ^ "Dedoose - Latest Dedoose Patch Notes". www.dedoose.com. Retrieved 2024-07-26.
- ^ "ELAN Release Notes – The Language Archive". tla.mpi.nl. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
- ^ "KH Coder download site". Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "MyMRPlace Inc launches flowres.io" (Press release). PR Newswire. 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ^ "NetMiner". NetMiner. Retrieved 2026-02-23.
- ^ "NVivo". Lumivero. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
- ^ "QualCoder 3.8". Retrieved 2026-02-17.
- ^ "qdap GitHub website". GitHub. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- ^ Turner, Daniel (2025-01-03). "Quirkos 3 is released". Quirkos. Retrieved 2026-02-12.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Quirkos for Linux". 27 August 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
- ^ "Welcome to RQDA Project". rqda.r-forge.r-project.org. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
- ^ "Releases · Remi Rampin / taguette · GitLab". GitLab. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
- ^ "Transana website". Retrieved 2 February 2016.
- ^ "Transana website". Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
- ^ Evers, Jeanine (May 2020). "What is the REFI-QDA Standard: Experimenting With the Transfer of Analyzed Research Projects Between QDA Software". Forum: Qualitative Social Research. 21 (2): 22.
- ^ "Choosing a CAQDAS package | University of Surrey". www.surrey.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-19.
- ^ Banner, DJ; Albarrran, JW (2009). "Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software: a review". Canadian Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 19 (3): 24–31. PMID 19694114.
- ^ St John, W; Johnson, P (2000). "The pros and cons of data analysis software for qualitative research". Journal of Nursing Scholarship. 32 (4): 393–7. doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.2000.00393.x. PMID 11140204.
-External links
[edit]- The CAQDAS networking project maintained by the University of Surrey offers advice and reviews on various software packages.
- Harald Klein's comprehensive guide to CAQDAS
| Open source software | |
|---|---|
| Proprietary software | |
