For the training exercises we will be using data that I provide.  Be sure to bring some of your own data as well as there will be blocks of time devoted to establishing your own project and developing it.  Participants consistently report that using their own data advances their skills and enables them to solve start up and design problems.  File formats .doc, .docx, .txt .rtf or .pdf can be imported directly into NVivo 8 (see note on Pdf files below for NV7).   If you haven’t collected any data as yet, you could bring along some literature to start analysing, or some of the material you have collected around your research project.  Whatever you bring, you will get best learning outcomes if it is meaningful data that you want to analyse. 

Day One: Setting up and organizing your project; working with all types of research data

Day one focuses on creating a project and organizing your data to maximize the use of NVivo’s tools of analysis later in the course. During the morning of day one we cover the necessary fundamentals of memoing, annotating, linking and coding data. Session 3 on both days is devoted to setting up and working with your own project and allows time to trouble shoot project design issues – and includes guidance on how to avoid the pitfalls of poor project design and ineffective use of research time. Our final session of the day is dedicated to working with audio and/or visual data, as well as data that you want to work with, but not import, you’re your project.

Day Two: Query design to answer analytical questions; graphical representation of query results and other data

Day two reviews the basic skills from day one and encourages greater understanding of NVivo’s tools. We start the day by linking text-based data to associated survey (quantitative) data, which helps us, in Session 2, to run simple and complex analyses using the query tools. In Session 3 we begin to utilize these query tools (in your own project) and discuss coding hierarchies, mixed methodologies, and many other project development issues. In our closing session on Day 2 we look at NVivo’s reporting functions, including web reporting and publication, and focus particularly on the graphical representation of all our data types.

Bringing along some of your own data is the best way to make the most of the learning environment. A little work formatting your own data prior to the course will facilitate progress on your project.

Could all participants ensure they bring along a mouse – and especially so for anyone intending to use a MAC (booted under windows).

Course Notes 
A full set of notes provided. 

Refreshments
Tea, Coffee and Juices available all day, morning and afternoon refreshments and lunch supplied. Please advise if you have any special dietary requirements.