NVivo: A Powerful Tool for Analysing Complex Qualitative Data
Qualitative research often involves a wide range of complex data—interviews, focus groups, documents, and media content. To help researchers efficiently organize these data, making it easier to track and retrieve information, the HAPPY project has purchased NVivo licenses for each of the Colleges. This investment in cutting-edge software aims to streamline the process of working with non-numerical data, transforming how researchers approach their analysis.
What is NVivo?
NVivo is an advanced software tool specifically designed to handle qualitative data, such as interviews, surveys, open-ended responses, articles, and even social media content. Instead of manually sifting through pages of information, NVivo helps researchers categorize and organize data, making it easier to identify patterns, trends, and insights. Its data visualization features—such as charts, graphs, and reports—enhance the understanding of complex data and simplify the presentation of findings. In short, NVivo makes qualitative data analysis more efficient, thorough, and insightful.
Training for Success
While acquiring NVivo software is a significant first step, learning how to maximize its potential is equally important. To ensure that researchers can make the most of NVivo, a one-week intensive training session was held in the beginning of July 2024. The workshop was led by Dr. Sandi Abram, a postdoctoral researcher in Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Ljubljana. Dr. Abram’s interdisciplinary expertise in urban studies, ethnography, and anthropology, coupled with his extensive experience with qualitative analysis tools like NVivo, made him an ideal facilitator for this training.
Abram’s first visit to Bhutan was warmly welcomed by Ms. Kencho Pelzom from the Development and External Relations team at Royal Thimphu College (RTC) and Mr. Kuenzang Dorji from Norbuling Rigter College (NRC). On Sunday, 7th July, a campus tour was organized, followed by a meeting with the NRC HAPPY project team. The day continued with presentations: Mr. Karma Drukpa, Dean of NRC, introduced NRC, and Abram presented on the University of Ljubljana. From Monday to Thursday, an intensive workshop on NVivo was conducted, attended by participants from all partner colleges, including Sherubtse College, Norbuling Rigter College, Royal Thimphu College, and the College of Language and Culture Studies. Upon completion of the workshop, each participant received a formal certificate of attendance, presented by the newly-elected President of NRC, Mr. Kunzang Drukpa.
Participant Feedback
The workshop received positive feedback from participants, who found the training not only practical but transformative in their approach to research. Here’s what a few had to say:
- “In the NVivo workshop, I learned that NVivo is super handy for managing all sorts of data like text, audio, and even social media stuff. It’s awesome for organizing and coding your data, making it easy to spot patterns and themes. Plus, it has cool features for visualizing your findings, which is great for presentations. The workshop also showed how NVivo can help streamline the whole research process, saving time and making data analysis way more efficient. All in all, it was a real eye-opener on how to tackle qualitative research like a pro”.
- “I am going to use the visualization in the data collection processes as well as data analysis. I will be using it my research as well be assisting my colleagues and students in undertaking the research through NVivo software. I would also help them access free trial version of NVivo.”
- “I plan to use the skills I gained from the NVivo workshop to streamline my future qualitative research projects. The ability to manage and code diverse data types efficiently will help me organize my research more effectively, saving time and reducing errors. I’ll leverage NVivo’s data visualization tools to present my findings in a clearer, more impactful way. Additionally, the workshop enhanced my analytical thinking, allowing me to identify patterns and themes more accurately. Overall, these competencies will improve the quality and efficiency of my research, leading to more robust and insightful outcomes.”
Conclusion
NVivo is transforming how qualitative researchers work, turning complex data into meaningful insights with ease. Through the HAPPY project’s provision of NVivo licenses and expert training from professionals like Dr. Sandi Abram, researchers are now equipped with the tools and knowledge to elevate their qualitative research to new heights.