Thanks Jana

Thank you Ines - yes, my intention is to use the database to help manage and structure the layers of analysis, and connections across the data. I appreciate the feedback from you and Jana.

Are there any particular concerns or potential difficulties to be mindful of when using this software?

I am using Atlas.ti for my PhD project and I have found it to be much simpler than NVivo. It is relatively easy to learn the initial stages and particularly useful if you have a lot of data. If you only have a small number of interviews then the merits of using computer-assisted qualitative analysis are debatable in my view. I purchased the student version for very little ($US99.00 from memory). You are kept informed of updates and there are also some valuable tutorials on the web that take you through the basic functions.I haven't used the more advanced functions yet, only initial coding and categorising.

i am currently using Atlas.ti for my pHd project as well, it works perfectly.

I am currently using Atlas.ti7 for my PhD project as well, it works perfectly. I recommend it, because it is very easy to learn and apply.

Good day, Paul: I can recommend the software very much for text analysis. An issue might be that it is not Mac compatible up to now. So Mac users can only use it via a parallel Windows platform on their desktop or laptop. Another point to keep in mind: You really have to get prepared very well for working with it, in order to make use of all its potential; means: read the very good handbook that comes with the software and browse through the examples it provides you with. You should also be clear about what types of documents you want to use with the software (as for example it doesn't/didn't(?) accept iphone recordings so they had to be formatted to wmv files), and if you want to work alone or in groups, on one or on more computers. Thus you have to prepare the database to be synchronizable. I added these points as they seem important enough to know in order to be able to begin working "smoothly", and with as little redundances as possible with this very good software.

There is also a useful book by Susanne Friese, 'Qualitative data Analysis with Atlas.ti. I have it and think it is well worth the investment. It also has a companion website.

Well Paul, as you can see there are just Atlas.ti enthusiasts here :)

I was also working for a while with Atlas.ti, but I wouldn't recommend it until I haven't tested MaxQDA or some of the open source tools, AQUAD for instance.

What I can say about Atlas.ti is that it did the job, nothing more, nothing less.

If you want to have an overview on available QDA software follow the link here.

http://www.sosciso.de/de/software/datenanalyse/qualitativ/

Thank you to you all for your helpful comments.

I note that v7 is recommended, and the ease many of you find using it.

I have Friese's book, Petya, so am reading that.

Also, I appreciate the link, Ronny - and am talking to our IT support staff about the options offered here.

This is really useful site to explore something like this.

I agree Paul. I wonder if there is a thread on RG where people discuss the practical issues they encounter while using Atlas.

Comments on ATLAS.ti and other software:

https://www.researchgate.net/post/Can_you_recommend_a_software_for_analyzing_qualitative_data_interview_transcripts?ch=reg&cp=re221_x_p33&pli=1&loginT=qeU3y0ohwvIaarbFLRJdom8zyHJkC3SJ

As my experience is limited to Atlas.ti I cannot compare it to other software. But I found its query tool with the possibility to search for defined combinations of codes very helpful (especially if you have different types of codes like e.g. more "technical" and more content-oriented codes). I would underline the statement above that planning your coding phase well ahead is essential for the use of Atlas.ti expecially with a bigger amount of data. To my knowledge Atlas.ti does not produce usable graphs and the maps are in my opinion rather a tool for analysis than anything you'd include in a report.

There are several options for so called »automated« analysis, for holistic (grounded theory approach) I would use Atlas.ti together with Susanne Friese's book or take a course to make analysis more smoothly.

Besides Nvivo, Maxqda, there is a program like Gabek Winrelan, where it is possible to discover/develop concepts, based in research material.

About both, you can see a bit old but still relevant presentation in Fikfak, e.a. 2004.

Susanne Friese is representing Atlas.ti version 5.

Joseph Zelger (author of the program) shows the abilities of Gabek WinRelan

http://isn2.zrc-sazu.si/sites/default/files/qualitative-research.pdf

It depends on the exact content analytical technique you want to apply and what you plan to do with your output. To perform Qualitative Content Analysis using inductive category formation of deductive category assignment there is an open access tool (www.qcamap.org), which provides csv-data as an output so you can perform quantitative analysis with your categories in SPSS following the qualitative analysis.

http://www.qcamap.org

I teach Atlas.ti and find it extremely useful, both for qualitative data analysis and for the literature review

I am yet to use it for my PhD research and I am going for training in it at African Doctoral Academy at Stellenbosch University.

AS my university introduced the ATLAS. ti I have know idea about before, now I am waiting for the workshop to explain the features of it as well as how to use it.

ATLAS.ti is an excellent tool to assist with qualitative data analysis and literature reviews. I have been using it for 20 years.

Atlas.ti is definitely a useful tool for qualitative data analyses and the literature review stages. One thing I have found is that one needs some time to accustom yourself to the various functionalities. The user manual is freely downloadable and gives one easy to follow steps to navigate the programme. Atlas.ti also has all the functionalities that one can compare to manual coding and thematising the data. In sum, it is a user-friendly and comprehensive tool.

I am exploring this software for my qualitative data. Opinions for its methodologies highly welcome

Highly recommend, easy to learn even for beginners.