Introduction to the KWALON Experiment: Discussions on Qualitative Data Analysis Software by Developers and Users

Authors

  • Jeanine C. Evers Evers Research & Training
  • Christina Silver University of Surrey
  • Katja Mruck Freie Universität Berlin
  • Bart Peeters Ghent University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-12.1.1637

Keywords:

QDA software, CAQDAS, software developers, KWALON, CAQDAS Networking Project, FQS, Kwalitatief Sterk, Berliner Methodentreffen, ATLAS.ti, Transana, Cassandre, MAXQDA, NVivo

Abstract

In this introduction to the KWALON Experiment and related conference, we describe the motivations of the collaborating European networks in organising this joint endeavour. The KWALON Experiment consisted of five developers of Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) software analysing a dataset regarding the financial crisis in the time period 2008-2009, provided by the conference organisers. Besides this experiment, researchers were invited to present their reflective papers on the use of QDA software. This introduction gives a description of the experiment, the "rules", research questions and reflective points, as well as a full description of the dataset and search rules used, and our reflection on the lessons learned. The related conference is described, as are the papers which are included in this FQS issue. URN: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs1101405

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Author Biographies

Jeanine C. Evers, Evers Research & Training

Jeanine EVERS is the founder and manager for the KWALON training division, which provides training in qualitative research methods and QDA software in The Netherlands from 2004 onwards. KWALON is the Dutch Platform for Qualitative Research, which promotes the use of qualitative research and strives to enhance the quality of qualitative research in The Netherlands. She has been an active member of KWALON from 1995 onwards. Besides that, she is a lecturer in qualitative research methods at the University for Humanistics in Utrecht, and she has her own company, Evers Research & Training, which provides training and consultancy services for groups and individual researchers.

Christina Silver, University of Surrey

Christina SILVER is the manager of the CAQDAS Networking Project, for which she has worked since 1998. The project provides information, advice and training in a range of software packages designed to facilitate the analysis of qualitative data. She leads the training and capacity building activities of the project and is involved in research conducted under the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) funded project Qualitative Innovations in CAQDAS. Christina’s particular interests relate to the relationship between technology and methodology and the integration and analysis of non textual data, using software. She is also the co-founder of Qualitative Data Analysis Services (QDAS), which provides customised training and consultancy services for individuals and groups engaged in qualitative analysis.

Katja Mruck, Freie Universität Berlin

Katja MRUCK is FQS main editor and Head of the Institute for Qualitative Research, Berlin, Germany.

Bart Peeters, Ghent University

Bart PEETERS is a member of Kwalitatief Sterk's executive committee since 2005. As a medical sociologist he has been performing qualitative research on diabetes, adherence, ethnicity & health and poverty & health.

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How to Cite

Evers, J. C., Silver, C., Mruck, K., & Peeters, B. (2010). Introduction to the KWALON Experiment: Discussions on Qualitative Data Analysis Software by Developers and Users. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-12.1.1637

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 1 (2011): The KWALON Experiment: Discussions on Qualitative Data Analysis Software by Developers and Users

Section

Thematic Issue

License

Copyright (c) 1970 Jeanine C. Evers, Christina Silver, Katja Mruck, Bart Peeters

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.