The Elusive Software

It seems that the CAQDAS (Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software) folks think pretty highly of a tool called the QDA Miner, so I wandered over to their website to check it out.

I liked this software because of its various features, particularly because you can also store and code documents, photos, paintings, and artwork. In one of my most favorite courses I took at Ohio State, Studies in Latino/a Literature and Culture, in addition to various texts, we studied different forms of artwork including the graphic novel, film, and murals. The QDA Miner would be extremely useful if part of my research were to include a document analysis or include various forms of art. I also liked the very cool 3D concept maps that grouped themes.

I was kind of geeked because the website offered a demo.

But... It was not to be.

Issue #1: Cost. $1595! I'm sure this program does everything but make cappuccino, but this software would cost more than a mortgage payment or a month of child care.

Issue #2: the dreaded words for any Mac user:
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 98, XP, 2000, Vista.

As I realized this was not to be, I moved on to another type of software. I am an English major at heart (my undergrad degree), so I was drawn to the very-cool-sounding Storyspace. The description even appealed to me; I have scraps of paper and notebooks filled with ideas for stories that I've collected as inspiration has struck over the years. Storyspace strikes that chord instantly by talking conjuring up the image of the disorganized writer jotting down an idea on a napkin. (That's me!)

The website is very simple. So simple that they do not even have a demo or a screenshot! They do offer both the Windows and Mac platforms, but I would be extremely hesitant to buy a product for $295 without knowing exactly what I was getting.

If I were to go the faculty route or conduct research in an administrative position, I would definitely go with NVivo. It's set up to mostly look like Microsoft Outlook, which makes it extremely user-friendly. I also liked that PDFs could be imported (good for journal articles that are downloaded) and that it can contain pictures, audio, text, and video. I liked that you can not only transcribe right in the window as your audio or video is playing, but that you can also annotate, code, or create links right within the same page. I watched a couple of the tutorials and I was impressed by the ease of the software and the support that is offered through the website. (I also like that one of the links at the top says What is Qualitative Research?)

This software also primarily runs on Windows. I've heard (and this website confirmed) that the newest Mac operating system, Leopard, will allow you to run a virtual windows platform. I don't currently have that version, but it may be worth it to look further into running a Windows environment on my Mac.

A final, random thought that doesn't have anything to do with CAQDAS: I love using Macs. I think they are so superior to PCs, which I grew up on. With the popularity of the iPod and iPhone, you would think that more software companies would create their software for the Mac platform as well. It's frustrating to get geeked out by software only to be disappointed when you can't run it on your Mac. When I was pregnant with my daughter, my Aunt Jane got me this awesome software that would allow you to create a digital scrapbook (I love scrapbooking) that she saw on Oprah, I think. I was so excited - only to be crushed when I found out it wouldn't run on a Mac and there was no comparable product. Oh the woes of being a Mac, not a PC!