nv10 tutorial 10 asking questions.pdf

8/11/2019 NV10 Tutorial 10 Asking Questions.pdf

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Learning NVivo 10


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IntroductionTutorial 8: Searching Project Items and Text introduced a range of techniques for finding and querying

project items and text and using or saving the results. In particular it introduced Text Search andWord Frequency Queries . This tutorial adds to your repertoire of Queries , with a focus on ways toquery coding. Table 1 describes the full range of Queries available in NVivo 10.

Table 1: Queries and their applications in NVivo 10

Query Description Examples Text Search Find all occurrences of a

word, phrase, or concept.

Find all occurrences of the word coding and return the

paragraphs that contain it.Find all references to code , and all similar words codes ,coding , coded. Find all occurrences of the words coding , node and similarwords then code them at a new node (see Tutorial 8 forfurther examples of Text Search).

WordFrequency

Find the most frequentlyoccurring words or concepts.

Look for the most frequently occurring words in a set ofsources.

Find the most frequently occurring themes in a documentor group of documents where similar words are groupedinto concepts (see Tutorial 8 for further examples).

Coding Find all content coded at aselected node, a combinationof nodes, or a combination ofnodes and attributes.

Gather content that has been coded at the node Coding ,only when it is contained in the Survey dataset, not inarticles from the research literature (Example 1) .Find where content is coded at NVivo Version 8 but is notcoded at Grounded Theory (Example 3) .

M t i Fi d bi ti f it C h t th h ti d i NVi d


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While each Query offers different criteria to choose from, and some offer different options forreturning results, there is a common set of building blocks, and the basic procedure for constructing a

Query is similar for all queries.You need to be familiar with the criteria defining what you can look for, the constraints on where youcan search, and the ways in which you can handle the results in order to decide:

How to organize your data effectively to take advantage of NVivos Query functions; Which Query is needed to answer the particular question(s) you wish to ask; Which options to select when creating the Query; How to return and display results to assist interpretation.

In Tutorial 8 we explored the differences between Find , which looks for project items and Query which searches text and coding (except for Group Query which behaves like Find and looks for

project items). Generally you can expect a Query to return either text or coding as a result. From thisyou might expect that when you want to set up criteria for a Query, you will be asking questions interms of Sources containing text and Nodes containing coding. However, there are other dimensionsyou can use to group, divide and explore your data. These include:

Classifications with their associated Attributes . Both sources and nodes can belong to aClassification , so you can search for text or coding in items within a Classification or havingthe nominated Attribute value(s) associated with that Classification .

Collections of sources or nodes: these can be stored in Folders , Sets or Search Folders . Sources and nodes can also be divided according to who created them or modified them mostrecently, that is, by the projects User(s) .

These, together with the individual project items, are the building blocks for constructing a Query .

In this tutorial you will:

Identify the building blocks for constructing queries Distinguish between the different types of query

R i th b i d f t ti


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Coding QueryCoding Query is the first of the queries which search for coding. The Coding Query Criteria tab issubdivided into Simple (Figure 3) and Advanced (Figure 5) .

The Simple tab supports two quite different questions.

Selecting the Node option, without further instructions, would return exactly what you would see if youopened the node in Detail View. However, the remaining options allow you to restrict which codingwill be returned from within the selected node.

Example 1: In a survey asking NVivo users for their experiences with the program, I created a node forCoding to capture their thoughts on the uses of coding. I also undertook a review of the literaturewhere people report on NVivo and its uses in research. Some of this material also discusses codingissues and is coded at Coding . Now I want to investigate data on coding only when discussed by thoseresponding to the survey. I can do this by checking Node in the Simple tab so I can select Coding(Figure 3) . Then I would need to restrict the Query to look only at the survey data. (See how to do thisin the next section on page 11. )


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your question, or all data having a nominated Attribute value. You can also choose Not coded at hererather than Coded at . Using the Options slot, you can then combine this with any other similar

selection of data to build up precisely the coding you want. You can combine these items byintersecting them ( AND ) or by using other combination options (see Help: Combine criteria in queries for details of these options). You can even restrict any or all of these criteria by selecting only codingcreated or modified by a User or group of Users .

Example 3: The NVivo literature deals with a number of versions of the software, dating back at leastto NVivo Version 2, which was significantly different from recent versions. I want to read only thosearticles which address Version 8. However, I want to exclude articles on grounded theory. To do thisIll u se the Advanced tab in Coding Query . The first criterion for my search is to look for contentCoded at the node Version 8 . I want to intersect this ( AND ) with content Not coded at the nodeGrounded Theory . I can restrict the query to searching sources in my literature folder and have it returnthe finds as a Node or as a Set of all the articles dealing with Version 8 other than those that have usedgrounded theory methods.


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Figure 7: Options for combining queries in Compound Query

Matrix Coding Query

Matrix Coding Query expands the ways in which you can combine project items to ask questions ofyour data. As the name suggests, a Matrix Coding Query returns a matrix, or table, where the contentof the cells is the coding specified by the criteria you selected (Figure 8) . There are three parts tosetting the criteria: defining content for Rows and Columns under their respective tabs, and theninstructing the program how to combine these two sets of content with the Matrix tab (Figure 9) .


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Figure 12: Setting criteria for a Group Query


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Using Filter, Sets and Search Folders in QueriesFilter , Sets and Search Folders are powerful tools for selecting project items with precision,according to specified criteria. You will find occasions to use them at a number of points whenconstructing queries. Use them to select the exact items needed for criteria when asking a question or tonarrow the scope of a query. Consider them also when choosing how to return results. Sometimes the

purpose of one query can be simply to create a Set that will form part of the criteria in the nextquestion. As you work through the various options for constructing queries, look for the places whereyou can select a Set or a Search folder , or activate a Filter .

FilterAt any point in a Query dialog where you have the option to Select Project Items , you can choose toactivate the Filter in order to make your selection. The Filter button is located at the foot of the SelectProject Items dialog.


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Sets and Search FoldersBoth Sets and Search Folders can play an important part in setting the scope of a query. They are

particularly useful if you are running a series of searches for text or queries about your coding across part of your data or if you need to repeat a series of searches at intervals throughout the journey of your project.

The difference between these two options is primarily that a Set is static i.e. unchanging, while aSearch Folder is dynamic. The contents of a Search Folder will be updated whenever it is activated,reflecting changes made to the combination of project items meeting the Search Folders criteria forinclusion. Search Folders can only contain one kind of project item, sources or nodes, whereas Sets can contain more than one kind of item, sources and/or nodes (which code parts of sources.)

You can simply create a Set to identify the records you want to search, or you can create a SearchFolder using the Find tool. You can revise how to make each of these in Tutorial 8.

Sets can be either the input or output of a query.

You can scope your text search or coding query to a Set; You can save any or all of the items in any List View to a Set. Results of any Find or Query can be saved as a Set. This means you can scope a new search to

what you found in the previous search.

If you needed to make a selection of items as you would for a Search Folder , you can do this whilesetting up a query by using the Filter , which activates the Find tool.

Where to look to find the answer to your question: settingthe scope of the searchAn important feature of the Query tool is that you can always nominate where you would like tosearch what data records or project items do you want to focus on? The ability to set the scope of aQuery is critical for qualitative research. Query without scope is a blunt instrument.


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Coding Comparison QuerySelections within a Coding Comparison Query are constrained by the nature of the query itself. It is acomparison of the coding by different users therefore you must nominate which users are to becompared. And because it is a coding comparison, you must select the nodes to be compared. So thescope is set first by selecting which nodes are to be compared, and then by nominating which sourcesare to be searched. So At Nodes is scoped by Sources.

The options, then, for setting the scope of a Coding Comparison are:

Selected items Sets Folders Classifications Search Folders

Figure 20: Options for setting the scope of a Coding Comparison Query

Remember you can use Filter, Sets and Search Folders to assist you to specify the scope of your query precisely. Look for places where you can choose these options. Plan Sets and

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View and save a Connection MapThe Connection Map returns a diagram showing associations between the scope items and the range

items.

Figure 22: Detail View showing Connection Map View for Group Query Result

In Figure 22, the Scope items are Sources : articles from the literature contained in the Literaturefolder. The Range items are Nodes : each article was coded for the version of NVivo used in theresearch being discussed. The Connection Map shows that three articles reported on research using

NVivo Version 2, while two articles refer to each of Version 7 and Version 8 respectively. One articlereferences both Version 7 and 8.

1. With the Connection Map tab selected, use the Slider at the bottom of Detail View to zoom in orout on the diagram.


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Figure 24: Coding Comparison Query Result

Text Search, Coding and Compound QueriesHow will the results be returned?The Query Options tab for each of these three types of Query provides the following options forreturning the results:

Preview Create results as a new node Merge results with an existing node

Save results as a set Add results to an existing set Create results as a new node hierarchy

These options should be familiar from working with Text Search Query in Tutorial 8 .


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These are the same views available for any node and you will already be familiar with them. Resultsfrom a Text Search contain an additional view:

Word TreeThis view is discussed in detail in Tutorial 8.

Store Query results from PreviewResults from Text Search, Coding or Compound Queries , returned as Previews , can be saved usingStore Query Results .

1. In Summary view, from the right-click Context Menu, select Store Query Results .

The Store Query Results dialog opens.

Figure 26: Store Query Results dialog


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Aggregate coding to parent node

This option is only available when Create results as a new node hierarchy is selected. It has theeffect of accumulating all coding from the lower level nodes and including it as coding at the parentnode.

Matrix Coding QueryOnly two options are available for returning the results of a Matrix Coding Query :

Preview Create results as new matrix

The actual result is the same for either option. The only difference is that Preview can be closedwithout saving although the option to Store Query Results is available.

Results from a Matrix Coding Query can be saved either to the Results subfolder in Queries or to theMatrices subfolder in Nodes .

See Tutorial 11 for a full discussion of viewing and interpreting Matrix Coding Query results.

Constructing QueriesYou now have an understanding of constructing a query, the options available and the functions theyserve. In this section you will construct a Coding Query, a Compound Query and a Group Query. Forinstructions on constructing a Matrix Coding Query see Tutorial 11 and for a Coding ComparisonQuery see Tutorial 15. Tutorial 8 covers constructing Text Search and Word Frequency Queries.

First, lets revise the basic procedure for creating, saving and running a query.

Create, save and run a query: basic procedure


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Coding QueryYou will recall from the discussion above that a Coding Query provides ways of asking a range ofdifferent questions (see page 4) . Here you will try:

a Simple Coding Query set to return part of the coding at a node a Simple Coding Query set to return coding for a selected attribute value an Advanced Coding Query

Construct a Simple Coding Query for coding at a nodeTo illustrate these instructions, I will use Example 1 described above (p. 4) .

1. From the Query tab or the right-click Context Menu , select Coding or New Query>Coding .The Coding Query dialog will open (see Figure 27) .

2. From the Coding Criteria tab, select the Simple tab.

You can search for either content coded by a node or content having a specified attribute value. Thisexample searches for content coded by a node.

Simple tab


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5. Set Query Options to shape the result:

At Results , use the drop-down menu to select an Option determining what form the result will take.

Figure 31: Query Options showing the Results OptionsIf you chose an option other than Preview Only , complete the details required to name and/or locatethe items to be created or changed.

I have selected to Create Results as New Node as I want to return to this node from time to time, atleast until I have written up this section and made a selection of quotes I will want to include in myreport (Figure 32) . I have asked to save the new node to the Results folder so it will be archived andhave added a description including detail of how the node was derived.


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6. Save the Query

Click Add to Project . The General tab opens. Name the Query and enter a Description setting out

the criteria used.

Figure 33: General tab showing name and description for saved query.

I have chosen to save the query (Figure 33) . I may decide to rerun it in the future if I find I need torefine the coding in the original node as a consequence of this review of its contents.

7. Click Run . And check what happened.

Construct a Simple Coding Query for coding at an Attribute valueFollow the instructions above for creating a Simple Coding Query (p. 19) . Instructions are includedhere only where the process varies in important detail. I will illustrate these instructions from Example


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2. Click on Attribute Select and use the Select Project Item dialog to select the Attribute , thenclick OK .

In Example 2 (p. 4), I have selected the attribute Continued using NVivo from the Node ClassificationSurvey Respondent (Figure 35) .

Figure 35: Select Project Item Dialog showing selected Attribute

3. Complete the details in the Search for content coded at dialog.

Use the drop-down menu to select the criterion for content to be applied to the Attribute or value (equals value /does not equal value etc.), then select the value from the drop-down menu of available


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In this example, the query will be completed more quickly if I restrict the search to just the datasetSurvey since no other sources contain data from the survey respondents. This saves the programsearching the extensive literature that is also included in the project.

5. Complete the details for how to return results and saving the query, following the instructions forthe Simple Coding Query above (p. 19) , then run your query.

Construct an Advanced Coding Query1. From the Query tab or the right-click Context Menu , select Coding or New Query>Coding

The Coding Query dialog will open.

2. Construct the question you want to ask by selecting the Advanced tab in the Coding Query dialog.


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Figure 40: Advanced Coding Query Coding Criteria tab displaying plain languagedescription of criteria


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Further thoughts on using Coding QueryIn Coding Queries you can combine criteria about coding at Nodes and criteria about the values of

Attributes of Source or Node Classifications. No matter what criteria you choose to include, the resultwill be coding, although you can ask to return a list of the items which contain that coding.

Consider using coding queries for any of these five purposes:

1. Querying data records and the nodes you have created from the data. You can ask aboutthe relations between two or more nodes by asking about the data coded at each.

2. Using the query to create a new node so you can ask another question.

3. Gathering material in combinations of categories to enable you to see the data from adifferent angle.

4. To show a pattern, increasing the grain size of your theory.

5. To test hunches or interpretations by showing what fits or what fails to fit the theory.

Based on Uses of Coding Searches, Handling Qualitative Data p. 162

Think through the question you are asking.

Does your answer require coding to be collected into a new node according to particular

criteria? Or do you want to collect into a Set all sources whose coding meets your criteria. Ifeither of these sounds like the kind of answe r you are looking for, then it s likely that you canuse a Coding Query to answer your question.

Before constructing your query check:

Can your question be expressed in terms of themes, concepts or topics? Do you have Nodes for these themes, concepts or topics? Have you coded data to those nodes?

Can your question be expressed in terms of characteristics of participants, organizations or


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Figure 42: Advanced Coding Criteria plain language description for combining coding at aNode with content for an Attribute value

Example 9: Question Ive looked at suggestions for improvement from people who did not continueto use NVivo. Now I want to see why some people reported finding the course very relevant to theirresearch. In particular, I want to see what was said by people who came into the course alreadyconfident or highly experienced qualitative researchers . For NVivo this translates as: Find contentcoded at Highly relevant to research project, where it also and has either the value Confident OR thevalue Highly experienced for the Attribute Knowledge entry level (see Figure 43) . The result would bea Node containing all the coding matching these criteria.

Figure 43: Advanced Coding Criteria Advanced Coding Criteria plain language descriptionfor combining coding at a Node with content for either of two Attribute values


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Figure 44: Compound Query Dialog

Interpreting your coding query


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Figure 46: Summary result for Advanced Coding Query

However, this does not tell me what, or how many, other kinds of impacts these women may have

experienced in relation to their childrens schooling . A second query can challenge my hunch bychecking for content that is Coded at Impact on Women AND Not coded at Stressful, also restricted tonodes coded at the Attribute value Remote (Figure 47) .

Figure 47: Advanced Coding Criteria plain language description for finding coding at onenode which is not also coded at a second node

This time a total of 8 sources contain references (Figure 48) , some of which clearly illustrate beneficialimpacts experienced by the women.


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Figure 49: Group Query Properties Dailog

3. Select the Scope .

If you wish to make a selection, use the drop-down menu to choose Selected Items or SelectedFolders , then click on Select and check the item(s) of folders to be selected.

4. Select the Range.


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Figure 51: Group Query Properties for Model Items


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Of course you must back up your project, but this time, before you do so, tidy it up. Youprobably have many search results nodes from playing with the Query Tool.

Remember that Results nodes cannot be altered, so the only reason for keeping them is toreturn to examine the result of that query, or compare with a subsequent query. If you dontexpect to need them, write in a memo about what you learned and delete the records ofsearches you dont need to keep. If any results nodes are to be kept and developed, byadding more coding, they must be moved into the Nodes area. Move them using cut andpaste, as in Tutorial 9, and rename them sensibly. Add a description to record how each was made its all part of your projects log trail.

View the query that generated the resultAfter you have you stored the results of a query in the Results folder, you can view the query thatgenerated the results, even if you did not choose to save the query.

1. In List View , select the query result.

2. Either

On the Home tab, in the Item group, use the drop-down menu under Open to select Open LinkedQuery .

Or

Right-click and from the Context Menu select Open Linked Query.

The Query Properties dialog opens. The selections you made are visible, but are not active.


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Appendix 1: Planning for and reflecting on queries and resultsQuestion

In plain languageQuery or Find to be used Scope

Where to lookResult

What did I learn from this

Example:Do women in remote areas generallyfind experiences of involvement withtheir childrens schooling stressful?

Advanced Coding Query: Search forcontent Coded at Impacts on WomenAND Coded at StressfulAdvanced Coding Query: Search forcontent Coded at Impacts on WomenAND Not Coded at Stressful

Use Intermediate Find to create a SearchFolder containing Nodes with theAttribute value Remote. Restrict theQuery to nodes in this folder.

Results of both queries returned as nodesand read thoroughly. The first queryreturned useful finds, enough to arguethat these experiences can certainly bestressful. The second query returnedalmost as much material, including lotsof accounts of good and beneficialexperiences. Note: code on from thisnode to arrive at a more nuancedinterpretation of remote womensexperience.


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QuestionIn plain language

Query or Find to be used ScopeWhere to look

ResultWhat did I learn from this

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