MAXQDA - The Art of Text Analysis


28.8. 2007

10 steps from interview to coding

Coding is very simple if you use MAXQDA. See our short and fast list of 10 steps:

Steps 1-5 (big picture) Step 6-10 (big picture)
(Click to see a large picture)

Step 1-5

1. Record your (single-, group-, focus-) interview(s) with a digital recorder (e.g. Olympus DS-30) and transfer them onto your Computer.

2. Install the cost free transcription software F4 from www.audiotranscription.us and load your interview file. Automatic rewind function and time “stamps” can be set by the researcher.

3. Start your transcription. Control it with the F4 key or “much easier” plug in the USB-Footswitch f-pro and begin typing.

4. Save your transcript as an .rtf file (rich text format).

5. Open MAXQDA and import your text file(s) by choosing “Import Text(s)”. All time stamps will be visible througout the text.

Step 6-10

6. Now you can open one of the texts (double-click) and start working on it.

7. You want to get back right into the original audio file? Just click on a time stamp right in the MAXQDA Text Browser, and the audio file starts to playing the very same segment. Note: You will have to keep the software F4 open in the background.

8. If you want to code a text segment, just highlight it, press CTRL +W to create a new code, choose the code color, and type in a definition as “Code Memo”. Assigning colours opens up unique options to visualize your analysis, using the MAXQDA Visual Tools.

9. All coded phrases are visualized by color bars, using the color assigned by the researcher. An interesting idea is coming up while coding? Keep it by puting it right next to the text into a memo.

10. If you like to read through a specific selection of your coded phrases just ACTIVATE (right mouseclick) the specific code(s) and text(s). E.g. to see what “Jill” says about “Sport activities”. The result is shown in the “Retrieved Segments” window.