NVivo 12 Tutorial for Mac: Moving Beyond Description

As you progress in your research project, it's time to move beyond description and dive deeper into the analysis of your data. In this tutorial, we'll explore some tips and tricks for taking your coding to the next level using NVivo 12 on a Mac.

One of the first steps is to run text searches for specific concepts that have already been coded, ensuring that nothing has been left out. This can be checked against manual coding to guarantee thoroughness. The query tool in NVivo 12 is particularly useful at this stage, helping you identify patterns in your data that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.

If you're struggling to come up with ideas, consider consulting Bazeley (2009) and Braun and Clarke (2006) for inspiration. Don't worry if this process seems daunting – it's a normal part of the research journey! Sometimes, coding at a descriptive level can be a useful springboard for developing more analytic themes.

To get started, revisit your research question(s) to refresh your focus. It's easy to forget these as you delve deeper into your project, but they remain essential for guiding your analysis.

Next, take a closer look at your nodes in NVivo 12. You may find that they're quite descriptive or 'low-level,' requiring further organization and grouping. Alternatively, some data may have been coded incorrectly, so it's crucial to identify and correct these errors sooner rather than later.

At this stage, you may also want to check whether any categories can be combined to create broader themes. In some cases, adjusting the level of coding might be necessary – ensuring that there's not too much or too little material coded.

The first step in reviewing your coding is to read through the content of each node, verifying its accuracy. Once you've 'finished' coding, it's essential to review your node framework and coding decisions.

If this sounds like a familiar challenge, don't worry! We'll provide some tips on moving forward at this stage of the analysis process – including NVivo-specific techniques as well as old-fashioned brain work!

Remember that, in recent versions of NVivo, nodes have been renamed 'codes.' With these tips and tricks under your belt, you'll be ready to start writing with confidence.

Nvivo 12 tutorial mac