The Use of Computer Applications in Qualitative Research: A Review

concerns and criticism about CAQDAS.

1. Diversity of CAQDAS software programs 6. methodological bias leaning on grounded theory

2. misconceptions that the software alone can do 7. lack of recognition from experts and practitioners
the analysis

3. The ownership of the data or its proximity to 8. familiarity and technical readiness in using software
the researcher of this kind

4. over-reliance on the software 9. the cost and commercialization of CAQDAS

programs.

5. the way researchers present their study using

CAQDAS

- Schönfelder ● Qualitative research is a heterogeneous field

comprised of different and sometimes
competing analytic strategies.

- Gibbs, Friese, and Mangabeira ● reported that the earliest use of

technology in qualitative research is in the
form of tape recorders doing field interview
sessions.

- Welsh ● defines CAQDAS as an aid to the researcher

in the search for an accurate and transparent
picture of the data while also providing an
audit of the data analysis process as a whole.

- Humble ● She further argued that researchers need

information in order to critically and carefully
use such programs and their various features.

● CAQDAS programs have developed tremendously in the past decade and many features have emerged in
these programs
● Various qualitative methodologies such as discourse analysis, grounded theory, and thematic analysis can
be performed using the same type of technology.
● This article seeks to shed light on the use of computer applications in qualitative research, as more and
more disciplines adopt the qualitative approach to research.
 METHODS OBJECTIVES HISTORY

❖ This paper provides an
analysis of twelve (12)
foreign peer-reviewed
journal research articles
spanning the years 2002 to
2016.
❖ ProQuest was used to
retrieve the articles. LLC,
a global provider of
information content and
technology company that
sells academic papers,
journals, and books
examined various theses
and dissertations
❖ The said articles were
analyzed thematically
based on the key
information and critical
issues presented.
This article presents a critical
review of the use of CAQDAS.
1. the history of CAQDAS
2. the CAQDAS packages
3. functions and features of
the computer packages as
compared to manual
coding;
4. and criticisms, limitations,
and disadvantages of using
CAQDAS.
❖ One of the early starters
was the Italian theologist
Roberto Busa, who
became famous as a
“pioneer of digital
humanities”
❖ according to Carvajal, the
initial wave of CAQDAS
programs was developed
in the 1960s (although
Humble contends
otherwise).
❖ "The General Inquirer,"
created in the 1960s by a
communication company.
❖ The CAQDAS Networking
Project, which existed in
1994, is the best source of
information on CAQDAS.

❖ The gathered data circles ❖ Field and Lee popularized

around common that the term CAQDAS.
include a history of
CAQDAS. ❖ According to Kelle, early
programs focused on code
and retrieve functions.

CAQDAS FUNCTIONS AND CRITICISMS, CONCLUSION AND

PACKAGES FEATURES OF CAQDAS
VS.
MANUAL CODING
Ethnography, which Analyzing audio with
first became popular CAQDAS
in the 1980s, is one Qualitative researchers are
of the earliest increasingly interested in video
packages that will and photographic data. Also in
now be classified as textual analysis, computer
CAQDAS. software packages are used.
CAQDAS developers If a newer version of the
continuously software is released, the
adapt to the program's features and
ever-changing field functions are expanding to
of social science Simplify time-consuming
research. manual labor.
LIMITATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATION,
DISADVANTAGES OF
USING CAQDAS
CAQDAS can only In conclusion, there can
function on the be no best CAQDAS for
mechanical aspects of they generally have their
doing qualitative data. downfalls.
Another one is the In deciding whether or not
accusation that most to use a specific
CAQDASfavor the use of CAQDAS software,
the grounded theory qualitative researchers
methodology should consider the
critical points examined in
Gibbs and his colleagues this paper. as a
observed that CAQDAS supplement to manual
lack full recognition from coding
practitioners and authors
of guidebooks in research.