Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis (CAQDAS)

Over the last two decades, computers have had an extensive impact on our lives. and not surprisingly, this is the case when we do research. For qualitative research, as in other fields of research, the use of computers has gained increasing prominence in both data collection and data analysis. 'Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software' (CAQDAS), a term first coined by Lee and Fielding {1991), refers to specifically designed software programs for analysing your data (see CHAPTERS 5, 6, 7, 8, 23). In this chapter we will briefly discuss some of the key functions available via CAQDAS. We will also describe how we have adopted this software in our own research, along with the circumstances when we have decided not to use it. We do not present a step-by-step approach to using computer programs (see Bryman 2012, ch. 25; Gibbs 2008, ch. 8 for such detail), nor do we promote any one program over another. As Bryman (2012, p. 592) notes, there is 'no industry leader' with regard to computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software options.