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How to Choose Data Analysis Software

A comparative guide to qualitative and quantitative data analysis software.

Librarian for Research Data Management and Reproducibility

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Gabriele Hayden
she/her
Contact:
ghayden@uoregon.edu
541-346-1958
Website

Qualitative Analysis Software

 

  Atlas.ti Dedoose NVivo MaxQDA Taguette
Coding Language(s)    

 

 

 

User Interface Language(s)

English, Spanish & German

Compatible with most languages

English, Simplified Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese & Spanish

English, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Italian, Chinese simplified, Chinese traditional, Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, and Polish

German, French, Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch

Operating System(s)

Windows

Mac OS X

Linux

Windows

Mac OS X

Linux

Windows

Mac OS X

Windows

Mac OS X

Windows

Mac OS X

Linux

Cost (please check commercial websites for latest prices)

Student License (6 months): $51

Student License (2 years): $99

Educational License, Single User(monthly): $23

Educational License, Multi-User, 1 concurrent (annually): $357

Standard License, Single User: $12.95 monthly

Student License (12 months): $118

Academic License: $1,019

Student Plus License (6 months): $47

Student Plus License (24 months): $95

Student Analytics Pro (6 months): $55

Student Analytics Pro (24 months): $110

MaxQDA Analytics Pro (perpetual): $878

Free/Open Source

 

Atlas.ti

Atlas.ti is a qualitative data analysis software with the purpose of revealing meanings and relationships within complex datasets. Typical users include anthropologists, universities, and profit/nonprofit corporations. Free trial available

Pros Cons
  • Includes numerous built-in functions for coding, retrieving, analyzing, visualizing and exporting data
  • Works well for team work as well as project merging
  • User interface intuitive to use with well placed icons and functions
  • Google Earth is embedded in software
  • Help service is responsive to inquiries and suggestions
  • Projects cannot be assessed at the same time by multiple users
  • User interface search tool does not allow for integrated searches of both text and coded data. Must be done individually 
  • Software does not internally store all sources of imported data. Therefore, the locations of original data files must be kept manually
  • Up until recently, merging data capabilities were only available in Windows version, not Mac. The recent Mac update now includes data merging, however some bugs are still being evaluated
  • Windows and Mac versions have visibly different layouts

 

Import and Export File Capabilities

Import: Text files (.csv, .doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf, .txt), Graphic files (.jpeg, .gif) Video files (.mp4) & audio formats

Export: Excel files (.xls, .xlsx), Web-based files (.html, .xml) & additional formats (.sav)


View the Atlas.ti video tutorial below to learn more about basic coding techniques and how to create and assign codes. Closed captions are available. 

Dedoose

Dedoose is a data analysis web-based software, that allows for easy integration of both qualitative and quantitative datasets. Typical users include psychologists, sociologists, social scientists, health researchers, market researchers, and policy researchers. Free trial available

Pros Cons
  • Simple and easy to use user interface
  • Works well for project collaboration 
  • Excellent for mixed methods 
  • Has online user interface with mobile accessibility
  • Web based program only. Requires Internet access
  • Data security concerns with web based program
  • Requires Adobe Flash Player for in-browser (can use app instead)
  • Limited help features  

 

Import and Export File Compatibility 

Import: Excel files (.xls, .xlsx), Text files (.doc, .docx, .txt, .rtf, .csv, .pdf), Video files (.pm4) & Audio files (.mp3, .wav, .m4a, .wma)

Export: Excel files (.xls, .xslx) & Text files (.doc, .docx, .txt, .csv, .pdf)


 

NVivo

NVivo is a qualitative and mixed methods research software to organize and analyze data. Typical users include anthropologists and policy researchers. Free trial available

Pros Cons
  • Includes numerous built-in functions for coding, retrieving, analyzing, visualizing and exporting data
  • Works well for team work as well as project merging
  • Teamwork can be done simultaneously and allows for real time sharing
  • Easily accessible on mobile devices
  • Help service is responsive to inquiries and suggestions
  • Some functions are not intuitive for first time users
  • Importing large datasets can take a large amount of time or may result in an error message
  • Files from other programs are not always imported accurately (i.e. missing data, change in layout)
  • Does not conduct automatic transcription of interviews
  • Software for Mac OS X has limited functionality compared to software for Windows

 

Import and Export File Compatibility

Import: Excel files (.xls, .xlsx), Text files (.doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf, .txt), Graphic files (.bmp, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .tif, .tiff), Video files (.mpg, .mpeg, .mpe, .mp4, .avi, .wmv, .mov, .qt, .3gp, .mts, .m2ts), Audio files (.mps, .m4a, .wma, .wav) & Web-based files

Export: Excel files (.xls, .xlsx) & Text files (.doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf)

 


View the NVivo video tutorial below to learn more about the beginning steps of using NVivo.

Taguette

Taguette is a free and open-source tool for qualitative research. You can import your research materials, highlight and tag quotes, and export the results. Use the free version hosted by NYU or download and host your own copy.

Pros Cons
  • Simple to use.
  • Still being actively maintained as of 2021.
  • Easy to export.
  • Download self-hosted version to analyze sensitive data.
  • Free / open source
  • No support for audio, images, or video.
  • Free hosted app should not be used for sensitive material.

Import and Export File Compatibility 

Import: .pdf, .docx, .txt, .odt, .md, or .html.

Export: QDC (REFI-QDA standard), CSV (spreadsheet), XLSX (Microsoft Excel), DOCX (Microsoft Word), HTML, and PDF.


Qualitative Analysis Resources