Hello Scott,

I had phenomenological data for 50 odd participants in my last Nvivo (v10) project but this included various sources: textual (surveys and email) as well as multiple photos, audio and video recordings.

1) I set up nodes for each participant and coded each source to the participant

2) the project team defined initial thematic nodes based on the research questions and theoretical concepts from lit review, practical experience etc... these changed several times during the coding process

3) I went through each individual's souces and coded relevant bits to thematic nodes

4( I went through each source, checked the thematic coding already done and revised for/ added any new interpretations

5) I used the data modelling section to help sort the thematic nodes into a) hypothetical relations and then b) managable clusters and on occasions c) to merge nodes that turned out to mean closely related things or , less seldom to separate items

6) theme names and definitions were reviewed and revised by team

7) apart from 1) the process was iterative (approx 5 times).

I used our survey data as participant classification sheets since it was largely demographic info. I free-coded the email texts but could have sorted and prepared it under a 'survey question' type format in word or excel.

Assuming you are also interested in the particpants, and given your description of data, I would suggest that you establish nodes for each participant to which you can then also attach the photos. While you can follow the Nvivo instructions for 'working with datasets', y ou could also extract the demographic questions into a classification sheet to add to participant nodes. This way you can more easily run queries based on stuff like age groups, gender, residence location or other demographic characteristics. Also as I recall, if you don't already have them, you can create participant nodes as you load the classification sheets.

Extract then the survey questions on topic using same id field, prepare (format) and load according to Nvivo instructions so that you can autocode (creating preliminary thematic nodes by question) and count by answer (e.g. yes, no, don't know). More open questions need separate coding (according to your theoretical and or interpretative nodes). You can chooose to break these different types of item: boolean type ques/answer into excel dataset and open questions into e.g. individual word documents (follow the instructions on outline levels/headings carefully if you do this).

Photos are relatively easy to code once you have some ideas about what is interesting. You can code the whole photo to a thematic node and you can also code parts of the photo to a variety of different themes. Eg in the photos I was coding I might code the whole photo to something like 'home office', then I would also code specific items (or areas in the photos) to e.g. desktop computer, mobile device, study materials, outside view.

Sorry i missed the bit where you have issues about importing the photos. I renamed all my photos so I could easily identify them in the image folder with individual participants e.g. Barbara 1, 2 3 etc. I then imported these to a folder in Nvivo I named photos and had specified during upload process as containing images.

When I wanted to look at or check a specific image in Nvivo I could then easily navigate to it in the list shown when looking at the photo/image folder.

If you want to code the whole photo to a participant, highlight (click) on the photo in the list, right click to get the dropdown menu and select code to existing node (or if you don't have one then 'new node and add the requested info).

Thanks Lorinne! It certainly helps with a bit more clarity and assurace on the process. 

No worries, Scott. Say if you still have issues and I'l try to provide any other tips I can think of!