Introduction to Qualitative Data Analysis with QualCoder

In this three-hour, hands-on workshop, participants with no prior QualCoder experience will learn to set up a project, code real qualitative data, and generate their first report.

Agenda

Time Block Min. Focus
9:05 Qualitative Data Analysis 15 What is qualitative coding?
9:20 Meet QualCoder! 15 Tour of basic settings and functionalities.
9:35 Setting Up Your Project 30 Starting a new project and importing files. Describing cases and attributes.
10:05 Coding Data 40 Working with codes and categories. Different coding approaches. The role of memos.
10:45 Break 15 —
11:00 Analysis and Reporting 30 Querying data, code retrieval, reports and graphs
11:30 AI Features 20 Setting up AI and integrating it into your coding workflow
11:50 Wrap-up 10 Recapping and final considerations

Learning Outcomes

By the end, participants will be able to:

  1. Explain what QualCoder is and what kinds of data it handles.
  2. Create a project and import text, PDF, image or audio/video files.
  3. Set up cases and attributes to describe participants.
  4. Create codes and categories, and apply them to text.
  5. Write memos and journal entries to record analytic thinking.
  6. Retrieve coded segments and produce a simple report.
  7. Describe what QualCoder’s optional AI tools do, and the ethical questions they raise.

Setup Instructions

For our workshop, you need to install QualCoder, which you can do with the following instructions. If you have questions or need help, please email rcurty@ucsb.edu and jose_nino@ucsb.edu.

  1. Download from GitHub the QualCoder installer QualCoder_4.0_Win_INSTALLER.exe
  2. Open the installer
    • A window saying “Windows protected your PC” may open up. Don’t worry, QualCoder is safe to install, this just happens because it is from an unknown publisher. Click “More Info”, and then “Run anyway”.
  3. Follow the instructions in the installer.

An alternative to the previous steps is to download the portable version Qualcoder-4.0_Win_PORTABLE.exe. The portable version works without installation, just double clicking the .exe file. However, Qualcoder will take longer to start each time.

  1. Make sure you have installed any macOS updates before starting the installation. Go to the System Settings app on your Mac. Click General in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), then click Software Update.

  2. Download the App bundle macOS_arm_QualCoder_4.0.dmg

  3. Double click the downloaded file. Drag QualCoder into the link to your applications.

  4. Start QualCoder by double-clicking the app within your applications folder.

    • You may get a pop-up warning that QualCoder is from an unregistered developer or “QualCoder can’t be opened because Apple cannot check it for malicious software.” Don’t worry, QualCoder is safe to install, this just happens because it is from an unknown publisher.

    • Go to Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Scroll down until you see a message stating QualCoder was prevented from starting. Click on “open anyway”. ou may be prompted to enter your password and may need to click “Open” again.

    • From now on, QualCoder should start without issues.

If you are having issues with installation, you may have an older Intel-based Mac. Please visit the QualCoder GitHub website for additional instructions, and reach out to us if you need help.

The following instructions will only work for Debian-based systems (Debian, Ubuntu / Lubuntu / ZorinOS, Linux Mint). If you have a different OS, please reach out to us.

  1. Download from GitHub the QualCoder Debian package qualcoder_4.0_amd64.deb
  2. Double click to run
    • You might first need to right-click on the file and go to Properties, then check the Executable checkbox.

For installation instructions in other Linux systems, please visit the QualCoder GitHub website.