Analysing qualitative data: computerized and other approaches

Analysis of qualitative data can be done 'manually' using a variety of techniques such as 'cut and paste' and use of coloured pens to categorize data and develop theoretical explanations. More recently a number of computer software packages have been developed to mechanize this 'coding' process as well as to search and retrieve data. This article reviews the background to and advantages and disadvantages of computerized approaches, and compares these with manual techniques used in a number of recent nursing PhD studies. It is concluded that beginning researchers conducting small-scale studies would be best recommended to use a manual approach in order to gain insight into the intuitive aspects of analysis which are the essential basis of any method of analysis, including computerized forms.