The Challenge of NVivo Cases

Ask any NVivo trainer “What is the most challenging aspect of NVivo for users to learn?” and they will likely say “Cases and classifications.”

NVivo cases are a powerful tool, and once mastered, can be used to deepen and strengthen analysis. There are various reasons to use NVivo cases even if you are not conducting “case study research.” For example:

• To summarize and compare coding for certain groups of people in a study, such as comparing what individuals in different communities said.
• To explore whether specific age groups or professions had negative perceptions about a key topic using case attributes in a matrix coding query.
• To swiftly analyze open-ended questions from a survey dataset.

Setting up the cases in an NVivo project can be complex. Determining what to include as cases to answer the study question requires careful planning of the case data components. Once the required information is organized, it is important to ensure the correct data is attached to each case. NVivo’s case classification sheet assists in sorting this out. After building the sheet and correctly coding the source data, NVivo tools like matrix or crosstab queries and visualizations can be applied to explore data patterns. As your analysis progresses, documenting query results builds confidence in conclusions by providing evidence of your findings.

If NVivo cases will benefit your project but you have found it challenging to set them up, QuotesWork offers a step-by-step approach that addresses common mistakes made when learning cases and classifications in NVivo.

This course is designed for those who already have a solid understanding of the basics of working in NVivo; that is, you should already know how to set up a project, import and code documents, etc.

Ready to level up your use of NVivo? Spend a few hours with Laura, an NVivo Platinum Certified trainer, in live online training to learn the skills to plan and build cases in an NVivo project – useful for both immediate and future projects.