Aquad

Aquad is a free computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS) that supports content analysis of open data in qualitative research in psychology, education, sociology, philosophy, medicine, ethnography, politics, etc. Open data is collected through observation, introspection, narratives, discussion groups, interviews, etc.

Aquad (Windows)
Developer(s)Günter Huber
Stable release
8 / 2020
Operating systemMicrosoft Windows
TypeAnalysis of Qualitative Data Qualitative Research
LicenseGPLv3
Websitewww.aquad.de/en/

Author

Aquad was developed.

Description

Aquad provides classical tools of content analysis as:

  • Text searching: looking for segments in texts.
  • Coding: labeling segments in texts, audios, photos, or videos.
  • Writing memos (annotation): inserting annotations linked to parts or whole texts, audios, photos, or videos.
  • Word analysis: counting words according to criteria.
  • Retrieving by file name, code, keyword, or parts of memo texts: Retrieving segments according to criteria.
  • Table analysis: constructing tables combining criteria and arranging data in rows and columns.
  • Construction of linkage hypotheses: looking for relationships among codes.
  • Comparison of cases/files: contrasting coding among files.
  • Sequential analysis: part of the objective hermeneutics approach.
  • Comparison of cases by Boolean analysis: critical features and identification of „types“ as introduced by Charles Ragin.
  • Export data: quantitative softwares as R, SPSS, and PSPP for statistical analysis.

Possibilities

Presentation of data

Data could be analysed as written text, audio, photo, or video. Initially, the Computer assisted qualitative data analysis software analysed only verbal texts. The observation, introspection, narratives, discussion groups, interviews, etc. were transcribed and CAQDAS only analysed the transcription (linguistics).

Situation of data

Data could be directly analysed on the screen (one-step) or outside (two-steps). One-step allows to code on the screen with digitalised data. Two-steps allows to enter codes on the screen keeping the documents as realia on the desk or in other means as cameras, TV, etc. For instance, two-steps allows the analysis of recordings, diaries, incunabula, or objects without transcribing, taking photos, or scanning them.

Comparison of cases/files by Boolean analysis

Aquad allows comparison of cases/files by "logical minimization". It applies the Boolean method of qualitative comparison by Ragin (1989) and detects critical features to identify types of cases.

Versions

The current available version is 8, this includes examples of analysis in written text, audio, photo, and video. Aquad is available in German, English, and Spanish.

See also

References
  • Huber, G. L. & Gürtler, L. (2013) AQUAD 7. Manual: The Analysis of Qualitative data. Tübingen: Ingeborg Huber Verlag. Download Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
  • Ragin, C. C. (1989) The Comparative Method: Moving Beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press. Google Books
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.