Researchware Blog
Importing Code Lists
Background
Many researchers and research teams develop a code list prior to the coding of any documents. Initial thought as to potential and anticipated major and minor themes expected in the data can help focus and guide coding efforts. HyperRESEARCH allows the import and export of code lists to its Code Book or list of master codes.
The information below:
- explains the options available for importing code lists to HyperRESEARCH, and
- provides downloadable Microsoft Excel templates you can use for the style of code list, ranging from basic to full featured, that you wish to create and import.
Code or Group Names
Code or code group names can be up to 255 characters include the characters 0-9, A-Z, a-z, spaces and the following accented characters:
À Á Â Ã Ä Å Æ Ç È É Ê Ë Ì Í Î Ï Ð Ñ Ò Ó Ô Õ Ö Ø Ù Ú Û Ü Ý Þ ß à á â ã ä å æ ç è é ê ë ì í î ï ð ñ ò ó ô õ ö ø ù ú û ü ý þ ÿ
and these punctuation characters:
! % & ' + - . / : = ? _ ` ~
A Basic Code List
The simplest code list that can be imported is a simple list of code names, one per line. In the first of our Microsoft Excel templates, or any text editor, you can simply create a list of code names (see side bar for name restrictions).
Once you have developed your code list in the Excel template, you can prepare it for import with the following steps:
If you are working in Excel:
- Remove (Delete) the header line from the template
- Select Save As from the File menu/tab to save the template
- Select Text (Tab Delimited) (*.txt) from the Save as type: pop up menu in the Save As dialog.
- Click Save to save your code list. Excel will warn you about saving in the text format. Just click Yes.
If you are working in HyperRESEARCH:
- From the Edit Code pop up menu in the Code Book, select Import List... to import the code list you created.
- HyperRESEARCH will remind you that the list will be appended or added to the current Code Book. Click OK to add the codes.
The Code Book shown to the left will be produced upon importing the list shown in the template above.
A Basic Code List with Code Descriptions
Code descriptions in HyperRESEARCH's Code Book can be used to keep notes about anything the researcher(s) like. Most often, code descriptions are used to keep guidance on how the code is intended to be applied or to clarify the difference between similar codes used in a study.
To create an importable list of codes with code descriptions, simply add a second column in Excel (or a second column separated by a tab in a text editor) for the Code Description. The Code Description column can contain any characters except a line break (carriage return). Code Descriptions can be blank or empty.
Following the same steps as above to save the edited template for importing as a code list:
- Remove (Delete) the header line from the template
- Select Save As from the File menu/tab to save the template
- Select Text (Tab Delimited) (*.txt) from the Save as type: pop up menu in the Save As dialog.
- Click Save to save your code list. Excel will warn you about saving in the text format. Just click Yes.
Importing the same template shown above for a code list with code descriptions produced the resulting code list shown to the left.
A Code List with Code Groups
To create a code list with code groups, two additional columns need to be added. They must be in order after the Code (or group) Name column. These are the Type (code or group) and the Parent Group. The row order does not matter, but it is a good convention for easier reading to list Groups before you use them. The Type column cannot be blank and must contain only the word code or group depending on whether the name is for a code or a code group. The Parent Group column must contain the name of the parent group for every code or group. The Top level group or default group or root of the tree is called All Codes. The Parent Group can not be blank.
Repeat the same steps as previously described to remove the header line and save the template as a tab delimited file and then import the code list into HyperRESEARCH.
The template above produces the code list shown to the left when imported. Notice that A Sample Code and Another Sample Code have been placed in the group called Sample Group.
A Full Code List (with everything)
A template for a full code list, combining everything from the examples above, consists of four columns. The Name, Type, Parent, and Description columns. The columns must be in that order. Descriptions can be optional (blank). You can assign a Code to more than one group by separating the Parent group names by a vertical bar "|" as illustrated for the code called A Last Sample Code shown in the template below. In this example, the code is assigned to both the Sample Group and the Last Codes Group.
Repeat the steps previously described to save the code list and import it to HyperRESEARCH.
The Code Book shown to the left results from importing the template above. Note that A Last Sample Code has been placed in two groups, the Sample Group and the Last Codes Group and the description for the Sample Group.
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.