NVIVO 10 FOR BEGINNERS

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Introduction

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Welcome to the world of qualitative data analysis with NVivo! This article is designed for those who are new to using this powerful software and want to learn how to get started quickly. In this tutorial, we will cover the basics of getting familiarized with NVivo 10.

Getting Started With NVivo

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Before you can begin working in NVivo, there a few things that need to be done first:

1. Downloading And Installing The Software: You can download the free trial version from the QSR website (www.qsrinternational.com.au/nvivo/try-it-free). Once downloaded, double click on the file and follow the installation instructions.

2. Launching NVivo For The First Time: After successful installation of the software, you will be prompted to launch it for the first time. Click 'Next' until a welcome screen appears asking whether this is your trial version or if you have already purchased one. If using a trial copy then click on 'Continue' otherwise select 'Activate Product'.

3. Creating A New Project: Once inside NVivo, go to File > New Project... and choose the type of project that suits best for your needs (e.g., Qualitative Data Analysis).

Basic Navigation

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After creating your new project in NVivo 10, it is essential to get familiar with its basic navigation features. Here are some key things you should know:

- The main window: This is where all the data will be displayed and analyzed.

- Toolbars: These are located at the top of each panel within the main window. You can customize which tools appear by right-clicking on them or go to View > Customize Ribbon...

- Panels: These provide quick access to various functions such as Data, Coding, and Reports without having to constantly switch between different tabs.

Working With Nodes And Trees

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Nodes are used in NVivo 10 to represent concepts that you want to explore further within your data. They can be thought of like folders where related items can be stored together. Here's how they work:

1. To create a new node, right-click anywhere on the left-hand side panel and select 'New > Node...' from the context menu.

2. Give your node an appropriate name (e.g., 'Demographics') and click OK to save it.

3. Once you have created some nodes, double-clicking them will open up their respective tree view where all related items are displayed hierarchically organized based upon how they were coded initially when importing the data into NVaivo using 'Data > Import...' option available under 'File' menu at top right corner of main application window.

Importing And Exporting Data

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NVivo 10 allows you to import and export your data in various formats, including CSV, Excel (.xlsx), SPSS (sav), SAS (xport) files. Here's how:

1. To import a new dataset into NVivo, go to 'File > Import...' from the main menu.

2. Select the file format that matches with what you want to bring into your project and follow through with any additional prompts until completed successfully.

3. Conversely speaking if later down the line there is need to export data out again then simply navigate back up towards 'File' dropdown located at top left corner within main window -> choose 'Export As...' option followed by selecting desired output format before clicking on save button which will prompt user for location where exported file should be saved onto their local hard drive etc.

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In conclusion, NVivo 10 is a powerful and versatile qualitative data analysis software that offers numerous features to help researchers get the most out of their research. From importing and organizing large datasets to creating visualizations and reports, this article has covered some essential steps for beginners to getting started with using this fantastic tool effectively.

References

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1. QSR International (2013). NVivo 10 Help Manual.

2. Part 4: Creating Visualisations in NVivo. Event. August 10th - October 20th, 2020.

3. Intro to R pt. 2: Demystifying Data Types. Event. August 9th - October 15th, 2021.

Nvivo 10 for beginners