Researchware Blog
Confidentiality of qualitative data
Confidentiality of the sensitive information provided by participants in a research study has always been an area of concern, especially for qualitative researchers. How do I use information from my participants to tell the narrative of my research, while still ensuring appropriate confidentiality is preserved?
A recent paper entitled "No silver bullet: De-identification still doesn't work" by Arvind Narayanan and Edward W. Felten of Princeton University, thoughtfully reminds us that in this era of "Big Data" and access to large public data sets, it's easier than ever to re-identify participants based on "anonymous" data. Location, details of personal history, and other data that is seemingly not specific to any one person can be collated with public sources to narrow down and identify an individual.
One small way to keep pace is with tools that help ensure confidentiality. At Researchware, we've begun this process by including data masking in HyperRESEARCH's Report Builder.
Clicking "Mask Confidential Data" displays the masking feature, allowing the researcher to automatically hide names or other identifying information in their source material, replacing the information with either pseudonyms or an explicit indication that this is confidential data.
As the Narayanan & Felton article reminds us, "Data privacy is a hard problem." As we continue improving HyperRESEARCH, we'll be looking at data privacy improvements, such as automatically searching your data for information that could potentially be used to breach confidentiality and giving you the option of hiding it. Attentiveness to the new dangers to privacy – on the part of researchers and software developers – will help us all ensure research participants that their personal information will stay private.
Introducing the new Mixed Methods Importer Tool for HyperRESEARCH
Researchware is pleased to announce the release of our new Mixed Methods Importer tool for HyperRESEARCH.
The Mixed Methods Importer tool allows you to import data from a spreadsheet or other data table into a HyperRESEARCH study. The imported data may be quantitative, qualitative, or a mix (e.g. results from a survey containing quantitative variables with qualitative content from open-ended questions). HyperRESEARCH uses the data to create cases and a code book, and auto-codes the quantitative variables and qualitative content.
How does it work?
By reading each row of data from your data file and creating a text source file for that row, it automatically generates a source file that is then coded in accordance with the settings you select. The coding, with links to the source material, is saved to a HyperRESEARCH study file for use in HyperRESEARCH.
See the Mixed Methods Importer in action:
Click here for additional information on use of the Mixed Methods Importer tool, data file requirements import setup, and import options.
Updated January 18, 2015:
Note: HyperRESEARCH version 3.7.1 (the current version) includes the Mixed Methods Importer in the Tools menu with no additional installations required. You can download the latest version of HyperRESEARCH for Mac or Windows here: http://www.researchware.com/products/hyperresearch/download.html
Hands On HyperRESEARCH Workshop at Boston College June 29
Have you ever wished you could have face-to-face hands-on help with HyperRESEARCH?
Researchware will be presenting a post-conference workshop, after the Mixed Methods International Research Association's inaugural conference at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA (June 27-29).
This 3-hour workshop, titled "Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research and Theory Building Using HyperRESEARCH," will cover everything a researcher needs to know to do qualitative or mixed methods research in HyperRESEARCH. Paul Dupuis, primary developer of the HyperRESEARCH software, will be presenting. Researchware staff will be on hand to answer questions and help with the hands-on side of the workshop.
We will be demonstrating several new plug-in Tools that extend the capabilities of the software:
- Mixed Methods Importer (create a study from survey and similar data)
- Intercoder Ratings (for research teams)
- Coverage Map (to see how densely you have applied codes)
as well as current Tools:
- Word Counter
- Frequency Report
- Report Builder
- Theory Builder
Oh, and Researchware will be gifting a free HyperBUNDLE to every workshop participant! (That includes license keys for both HyperRESEARCH and HyperTRANSCRIBE.)
So if you can make it to Boston College for Sunday morning, June 29, please register for the workshop.
Please note: We have received permission from the folks at MMIRA to allow workshop participants who have not also registered for the MMIRA conference to attend the workshop, so please disregard the wording on the registration pages that implies you must be registered for the conference.
If you have any questions or would like any assistance, please contact us.
HyperRESEARCH Hands On Workshop: Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA June 29
Have you wondered why Researchware doesn't offer hands-on workshops for HyperRESEARCH? Especially when some of our competitors in the qualitative software market offer two-day (and sometimes longer) workshops?
Here are some of the reasons behind that decision:
- HyperRESEARCH has a shallow learning curve (i.e. it doesn't take long to learn how to use)
- Our software comes with complete documentation (built in Help system, User Guide in .pdf format, step-by-step tutorials)
- We offer free online training webinars (and are expanding our offerings)
- Our tech support team provides free support to all users
That adds up to fewer people wanting to spend money and time for hands-on workshops.
That said, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to present a post-conference workshop on Sunday, June 29th, after the Mixed Methods International Research Association's inaugural conference at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts (June 27-29). After all, HyperRESEARCH originated at BC, developed collaboratively by Dr. Sharlene Hesse-Biber, Paul Dupuis, and Scott Kinder.
This 3-hour workshop, titled "Qualitative and Mixed Methods Research and Theory Building Using HyperRESEARCH," covers everything a researcher needs to know to conduct qualitative or mixed methods research in HyperRESEARCH. Paul Dupuis, primary developer of the HyperRESEARCH software, will be presenting. Ann Dupuis (that's me!) will be on hand to answer questions and help with the hands-on side of the workshop.
We will be demonstrating several new plug-in Tools that extend the capabilities of the software:
- Mixed Methods Importer (create a study from survey and similar data)
- Intercoder Ratings (for research teams)
- Coverage Map (to see how densely you have applied codes)
In addition to current Tools:
- Word Counter
- Frequency Report
- Report Builder
- Theory Builder
Oh, and Researchware will be gifting a free HyperBUNDLE to every workshop participant! (That includes license keys for both HyperRESEARCH and HyperTRANSCRIBE.)
So if you can make it to Boston College for early Sunday morning, June 29, please register for the workshop.
Please note: MMIRA has authorized individuals to register for the workshop even if they are NOT registered for the MMIRA conference, so please disregard the wording on the registration pages that implies you must be registered for the conference.
Have questions or need assistance? Please contact us.
Researchware Cofounder to deliver keynote address at the Research Methods Festival at Oxford this July
Is mixed methods research a turbulent environment? Is innovation being stifled by an overly tightly bound concept of what it is? Sharlene Hesse-Biber, professor in the Sociology Department of Boston College, thinks so.
Professor Hesse-Biber will be giving a key lecture at the ESRC Research Methods Festival on July 9th (14:15 - 15:30 PM) where she will explain her thinking, how she has been reflecting on 20 years of mixed methods teaching, and her hopes for the future.
Listen to a podcast preview of her Key Lecture: "The 'Thing-ness' Problem of Mixed Methods Research"