Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) Seminars and NVivo Workshop at UNSW

Presented by Dr Heela Popal, Intersect Digital Research Analyst at UNSW

At the University of New South Wales (UNSW), there was a recognised need for training in qualitative data analysis (QDA) across the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS) disciplines. Dr Heela Popal (Intersect DRA at UNSW) responding to the UNSW DVCRE trainers’ requests for QDA trainings, scheduled a qualitative research methods seminars followed by hands-on NVivo trainings showing the application of these QDA methods in NVivo. These seminars and trainings aimed at upskilling researchers in the application of QDA techniques using NVivo.

The aim of these seminars and trainings, organised by Intersect’s Digital Research Analyst based at UNSW, Dr Heela Popal, was to provide HASS researchers with the foundational knowledge of QDA methods and practical experience with NVivo software to enhance their qualitative research capabilities. By introducing both the methodological framework and the software tools required for conducting rigorous qualitative analysis, the goal was to empower researchers with the necessary skills to apply these approaches to their own research projects.

The first component of the initiative was a series of two QDA seminars, designed specifically for HASS researchers. These seminars attracted a diverse group of participants from various disciplines, including medicine, business, social sciences, humanities, and arts.

The seminars covered:

  • Key QDA methods, such as thematic analysis, Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), and content analysis
  • Strategies for coding qualitative data and identifying patterns within the data
  • Approaches for analysing qualitative data from interviews, focus groups, and textual sources

The seminars were well-received, with participants expressing great interest in learning practical methods for handling qualitative data in their research. Attendees appreciated the structured yet flexible approach to qualitative methods and how these could be applied in digital tools like NVivo.

Following the seminars, a hands-on NVivo training was held to provide participants with practical experience in applying QDA methods using the software. The workshop, guided by Dr Heela Popal, focused on:

  • Creating a blank project in NVivo
  • Importing different types of file/data into this project
  • Organising and managing qualitative data within NVivo
  • Using coding and categorisation tools to analyse and interpret text-based data
  • Visualising data patterns through NVivo’s analysis tools
  • Generating word clouds and outputs that could support academic writing and publications

This interactive workshop allowed participants to gain confidence in using NVivo, empowering them to incorporate the software into their own research workflows.The ability to see how NVivo could streamline the process of qualitative data analysis while maintaining rigor was a major takeaway for many attendees.

The seminars and NVivo trainings received highly positive feedback from attendees, drawing significant attention from researchers not only in HASS but also in other faculties across UNSW. The success of these events highlighted the strong demand for more accessible and in-depth training in qualitative research methods.

As a direct result of these seminars and trainings, the QDA Teams community/group was established at UNSW, a collaborative initiative designed to provide ongoing support for qualitative researchers across disciplines. This community serves as a forum for researchers to share knowledge, resources, and experiences related to qualitative data analysis.

Key outcomes from the initiative included:

  • The formation of the QDA Teams group/channel at UNSW fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and continued learning in qualitative research methods.
  • Widespread adoption of NVivo software among HASS researchers and those in other faculties at UNSW.
  • Improved qualitative research practices, with researchers gaining both theoretical and practical knowledge of QDA methods with the demonstration of the application of QDA methods in NVivo software.
  • This group could act as a platform between faculties and the fostering of interdisciplinary collaboration in qualitative research.

How Intersect can help you:

Our Services

  • Training & Education: Helping researchers develop the essential skills through targeted programs.
  • Research Support: Our Digital Research Analysts (DRAs) work with researchers to find the best technologies and apply their expertise effectively.
  • Analytics Services: Delivering data science, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and statistical solutions to empower research endeavours.
  • Technology Services: Offering digital storage systems, large-scale computing platforms, data services, software, and more to support research needs.

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Membership involves a commitment to creating better research capability for the communal benefit of all members. Each member can draw on over 50 years of shared, on-campus experience in digital research technology; backed by research-specific technical specialists in IT systems, operations, and engineering. This suite of services is optimally delivered through an on-campus professional: a core component of Intersect membership.

Training

Intersect Australia offers hands-on training tailored to researchers and higher-degree research (HDR) students, covering a wide range of research-relevant digital tools and technologies, such as Excel, Python, R, SPSS, NVivo, REDCap and Qualtrics. These courses are available at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.

All members can access these training sessions. For details on all Intersect training courses across all member universities, click here.