Qualitative Data

Qualitative methods and software

The Academic Data Centre provides access to NVivo Qualitative Analysis on one of its four workstations (it is also available on Library computers M1006 thru M1009). We provide technical support and have reference material available for working with this software, and support the use of NCapture, a companion utility to NVivo for collecting social media (including tweets) and other online content for analysis .

The Library also provides access to a number of excellent qualitative reference materials through Sage Research Methods Online, including 

Qualitative Research and Ethnography (2015)  Qualitative Text Analysis: A Guide to Methods, Practice & Using Software (2014) 

and a number of other more specific guides focused on particular techniques, software, or disciplines. Other and print materials can be found by searching the library catalogue.

  • SAGE Qualitative Research Methods (2010)
  • SAGE Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social & Behavioral Research (2010)
  • SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research in Psychology (2008)
  • Qualitative Interviewing 2nd ed. (2005)
Data for secondary analysis

Although choice of projects is limited, many of these data collections are particularly rich sources for further research, and analyzing qualitative data collected and archived by other researchers can also be an excellent way to learn about and practice qualitative research methods.

QDR: the Qualitative Data Repository at Syracuse University (funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation)
A dedicated archive for storing qualitative and mixed-methods data in the social sciences. Data is international in scope: several Latin American projects, and a couple of U.S. political science collections. New and still small, but ambitious. Finnish Social Science Data Archive
Includes a couple of the few Canadian qualitative datasets available for re-use, the Intercultural Urban Public Space in Toronto 2011-2013 project and interviews from My Public Living Room 2014, also collected in Toronto.

Articles, web pages, social media discussions, policy documents, court transcripts and other sources can all provide rich sources for qualitative analysis.  Here are a few specific suggestions:

Counseling and Psychotherapy Transcripts, Client Narratives Film and Television Literature Index Historical Newspapers Database Judicial Decisions The History research page links to a number of primary source collections of interest, including
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Your Contact

Research Data Services Coordinator
(519) 253-3000 ext.3858
Leddy Library 1104 - Main