Qualitative analysis
Many social researchers have argued that using computer software to analyse qualitative data
divorces the researcher from that data; the common misconception is that the software does
the thinking for the researcher.
This has never and will never be the case with tools designed to manage qualitative data .
The interaction needed between the researcher and the data remains pretty much as it always
has been from the days of pencil-written notes, through the print-out and highlighter pen era
that still reigns supreme today with many social researchers. The analysis of qualitative
data has traditionally been a paper-based exercise involving a lot of lists and index cards
with headings on them and referenced pieces of data and information. Countless photocopies
of evidence were placed under different categories; extended maps of emerging theory have consumed
vast amounts of wall and even floor space in many offices. There have always been dangers that this
kind of analysis would not be comprehensive and therefore not totally reliable. and also it is extremely
time consuming.The introduction of word-processing packages and the execution of such work.Larger amounts
of data could be organized more quickly and more flexibly,which supported the more comprehensive analysis
of such data and more flexibly, which supported the more comprehensive analysis of such data therefore
increased its reliability.In turn, this raised the expectations of researchers working with qualitative
data and they began to explore the possibilities for qualitative computing.