MAXQDA software description

MAXqda 2 is the successor of the well-known software package winMAX. MAXqda supports everyone who performs qualitative data analysis and helps you systematically evaluate and interpret your texts. It is also a powerful tool for developing theories as well as testing theoretical conclusions of your analysis.

 

 

MAXqda is used in a wide range of academic and non-academic disciplines, for instance Sociology, Political Science, Psychology, Public Health, Anthropology, Education, Marketing, Economics and Urban Planning. MAXqda is distinguished by its high efficiency and stability, its elaborated functionality and excellent user friendliness. The simplicity of MAXqda does not imply a lack of sophistication. On the contrary, MAXqda is a demonstration that high technical standard and power can be combined with an easy and in most parts almost intuitive use of the tool. This special strength is particularly based on the following characteristics:

* the clear and neat structure of the program,
* the extensive and differentiated functions combined with a unique and highly advanced visualization available for the processes of coding, memo-writing and for browsing,
* the seamless integration into the world of MS Office and the MS Internet Explorer, with which the majority of researcher are very familiar.

The clearly-structured main screen of MAXqda reflects in its 4 main windows the essential management work areas in the process of qualitative data analysis:

* The complete set of your data (Window: Text groups)
* The code- or category system (Window: Code system)
* The single text, always and directly accessible (Window: “Text Browser”) and eventually
* Performing basic and complex searches, verifying your theoretical concepts (Window: “Retrieved Segments”)

All essential management functions are directly embedded in each respective window. Further functions and short cuts are accessible via the upper menu bar. The fully integrated add-on module for analysis of vocabulary and content, MAXdictio, is also accessible from this bar.

Overview of the MAXqda most important functions

* MAXqda allows the researcher to work with texts in rich text format (.rtf). Texts can be created and edited at any time. It is also possible to import texts in rich text format (no need for pre-formatting).
* Import texts from the Internet by drag-and-drop
* Create text groups and organize your textual material
* In order to do specific interpretations, you can build text sets for temporary analysis
* Create a hierarchical code (category ) system with up to ten levels
* Select and code text segments and assign codes or subcodes from your code system
* Define text units while coding
* Attach a weight score to text segments indicating the relevance of the segment for your research
* Select words or terms in your text and insert them automatically in your code system ("in-vivo-coding")
* Search for words and strings or combinations of words or strings in your texts or subgroups of your texts
* Display search results as keywords in context
* Automatically code search results
* Keep track of your ideas and hypotheses by writing memos
* Work with your memos through the Memo Manager, link them to codes, search in your memos with the MAXqda2 lexical search tool
* Attach special icons to the different types of memos ("theory memos", "methodological memos" etc.)
* Print texts with codings on the verge of the text
* Assign codes to memos
* Define quantitative variables and use them in combination with texts and code words
* Export the table of variables to statistics programs or Excel
* Import a table of variables from Excel or SPSS
* Pre-code text segments, for example for the analysis of open-ended questions in questionnaires
* Work together in teams and use special teamwork functions
* Create a backup of your whole project or study and send it via the Internet to your cooperation partner
* Merge projects, for instance for qualitative panel analysis
* Use a set of 10 strongly improved and illustrated analytical functions for text retrieval ("near", "surrounded by", "followed by", "at least" etc.)
* Get supported by a detailed online handbook
* Different coders can use one project, codings can be faded out and interrater reliability can be calculated with an Excel add-in
* The Code Matrix and Code Relation Browser create an overview of the distribution of your codings and show overlapping codings: Both allow direct access to the corresponding text segments.
* Recontextualize text segments and memos: Assigned memos and text segments may be shown in their original context at any time.

MAXDictio

MAXdictio, an add-on module to MAXqda, is used for analyzing vocabulary, creating dictionaries and performing quantitative content analysis.

MAXqda users have repeatedly asked for a tool that would allow them to make an index of the words used in a text file, and to have access to an additional aid to explore and evaluate text. A dictionary- and content analysis-module, MAXdictio makes it easy to examine the vocabulary used in a text and to find out which words can be found in which text passages or full texts. MAXdictio gives access to a systematic analysis of differences in the vocabulary used by your interviewees, resp. in your texts.

Besides the vocabulary functions, the MAXdictio module offers a number of techniques which originate from the area of classical quantitative content analysis. In this way, MAXdictio provides a strong and significant extension of the dimensions of qualitative data analysis.

MAXdictio is not a competitive program to perform qualitative data analysis, but wants to use quantitative content analysis techniques to support and enrich qualitative data analysis. In this way, the researchers have a tool at hand, which provides an additional arsenal of methods which is easy to handle. In consequence, MAXdictio is not thought of as a primary program for qualitative data analysis. However, its functionality is absolutely of interest for researchers who have to manage their projects with programs for content analysis. MAXdictio holds its ground in comparison with well-established programs like “Textpack” from ZUMA. On the contrary, the way dictionaries are built up in MAXdictio should convince all experienced users of programs for quantitative content analysis of its power.

MAXMAPS 

MAXMaps offers a new perspective on data and its inherent relationships. All elements of MAXQDA (codes, memos, coded segments and documents) may be imported into a map. Additionally MAXMaps permits the insertion of so-called “free elements” (text, pictures and graphics).
Its primary task is to give a graphic representation of the different elements of a MAXQDA project. These “objects” can be inserted into the MAXMaps drawing pad and connections can be made in order to visualize a complex network graph. MAXMaps also allows the design of graphs or networks that are completely independent of MAXQDA’s data.

Maps can help to explore and organize data. They enable the development of ideas and their communication within a research team. Maps can also be a valuable tool for scientific explanation and can help to visualize complex relationships and theories. For instance, tables and worksheets can be created to gain a better understanding of the different elements of a project. Furthermore, it can be used for presentations and lectures. The different layers of a map may be displayed in arbitrary order, making a variety of different options for designing presentations possible.
maxmaps

MAXMaps display options:

* The relationships between different codes and categories
* An overview of facts and phenomena in the research field
* The different memos belonging to a document or a group of documents
* The context or important facts of a study, e.g. photographs of locations or persons
* A graphic overview of the research methods used
* A time table of the research project
* The research design and characteristics of the sample
* and much more …

Special site Qualitative Analysis

In 2008, Science Plus Group created a special website for all relevant software packages in the field of Qualitative Analysis.
Interested? Please have a look at www.qa-software.nl 

Ordering

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