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NVivo

Learn more about NVivo, a qualitative data analysis software

Creating a Project File

  1. Open NVivo, then click "Create a new project"
  2. When the New Project dialog box opens, enter a name for the project in the Project title box
  3. Check the File location and click the Browse button to change where the file saves
  4. Click the Create button

Understanding the Workspace

NVivo workspace with its respective areas numbered. 1 indicates the menu bar, 2 indicates the navigation view, 3 indicates the list view, 4 indicates the detail view, and 5 indicates the open items list

  1. Menu Bar: Provides access to the commands you need to use when you are working with NVivo
  2. Navigation View: Provides access to all your project items. When you click on a folder in Navigation View, its contents are displayed in List View
  3. List View: Displays the contents of your folders. When you double-click an item in List view, it will open in Detail View
  4. Detail View: Displays an open file or node. The Detail View is the main area of the NVivo workspace
  5. Open Items List: Displays all items that are currently open

Importing Data Files

  1. In the Menu Bar, click the Data tab
  2. Select the data source to import (e.g., Word document, PDF)
  3. Select the file(s) you want to import and click Import (Tip: Import multiple files of the same type at once by using the Shift or Ctrl buttons to select them)
  4. Click Import, and then the data files should display in the List View

Auto-Coding

You can set up your data files (e.g., interview transcripts, focus group transcripts) so that NVivo automatically labels the different parts of the transcript based on the speaker. Auto-coding is particularly helpful if you want to compare different codes that are starting to emerge from your data across the different speakers.

  1. In the Menu Bar, click the Analyze tab
  2. Select Auto Code and then select By Speaker
  3. Under New Classification, create a name for that classification (e.g., People, Participants)
  4. Click the Auto Code button

Using Cases

Once you have speakers auto-coded, you can add characteristics that you think might be important to your data analysis, such as demographic information.

 

Creating Attributes

  1. In the Navigation View panel, click on Case Classifications
  2. Right-click on the classification you previously created (e.g., People, Participants) and select New Attribute
  3. Enter a name (required) and description (optional).
  4. Under Attribute Values, click the + symbol to add a new value.

 

Assigning Attributes to Speakers

  1. Click on the speaker's name to show attributes
  2. Double-click on the attribute and type in the value
  3. Select the value or create a new value
  4. Click Update