Box 14.3
Advantages and disadvantages of specialist qualitative data analysis (QDA) computer programs
Advantages
- They provide an organized single location storage system for all stored material (also true of word processing programs.)
- They give quick and easy access to material (e.g. codes) without using ‘cut and paste’ techniques.
- They can handle large amounts of data very quickly.
- They force detailed consideration of all text in the database on a line-by-line (or similar) basis.
- They help the development of consistent coding schemes.
Disadvantages.
- Proficiency in their use takes time and effort.
- There may be difficulties in changing, or reluctance to change, categories of information once they have been established.
- Particular programs tend to impose specific approaches to data analysis
Note: Different programs do different things; see Weitzman and Miles (1995) (Adapted and abriged from Cresswell, 1998, pp. 155-6)