QDA Points of Comparison

This article compares four qualitative data analysis (QDA) software options: Atlas.ti, NVivo, Dedoose, and Taguette, covering various aspects such as pricing, availability, and features.

Atlas.ti offers an educational license priced at $750 for a single user, with a student license available for $99 for two years or $51 for a semester. In contrast, NVivo has an academic license for NVivo Pro at $700 and NVivo Plus at $800, while student licenses for NVivo Pro and Plus are priced at $99 and $114 for a two-year license, respectively. Dedoose operates on a subscription model, charging $14.95 per month for individuals and $10.95 per month for students, allowing users to pay only for the months they utilize the service. Taguette stands out as a free and open-source option, making it accessible without any cost.

In terms of availability at North Carolina State University, Atlas.ti can be accessed through library computers and CHASS computer labs, with links provided for each. NVivo is similarly available on library computers and in CHASS labs, but Dedoose and Taguette are not provided by NC State. Taguette's open-source nature allows users to access it freely, but it lacks specific institutional support.

Support for users varies across these platforms. Both Atlas.ti and NVivo provide workshops, one-on-one consultations, and classroom instruction, while Dedoose offers limited support through consultations. Taguette also provides workshops and consultations, enhancing user engagement and learning opportunities.

When it comes to system compatibility, Atlas.ti and NVivo are available for both Mac and PC, although their versions differ in functionality. Projects can be transferred between the two systems. Dedoose operates as a web-based platform, while Taguette is accessible on both Mac and PC.

The types of documents supported by each software vary significantly. Atlas.ti accepts a wide array of formats, including doc, docx, txt, xls, xlsx, pdf, rtf, and various multimedia files. NVivo supports similar formats, with the addition of audio and video files. Dedoose also accommodates multiple document types, but its web-based nature may limit some functionalities. Taguette supports basic document formats such as pdf, docx, txt, and html.

Social media data import capabilities differ among the platforms. Atlas.ti allows import from Twitter, while NVivo provides a Chrome browser extension called NCapture for importing data from Twitter and Facebook, but this functionality is limited to the Windows version. Dedoose and Taguette do not offer direct import functionality for social media data.

File management practices also vary. Atlas.ti requires projects to be exported for transfer between computers, emphasizing the importance of backing up projects. NVivo allows for local or network storage of data and straightforward project file transfers. Dedoose stores data on the web, while Taguette enables local storage or server-based management, with daily backups on the Taguette server.

Team collaboration features are a strong point for Dedoose, which allows simultaneous access in real-time. NVivo offers real-time collaboration only with the purchase of NVivo Server. In contrast, Atlas.ti restricts project access to one user at a time, while Taguette allows real-time collaboration on its server or through self-hosted installations.

Merging projects is possible with Atlas.ti and NVivo, while Dedoose does not support merging but allows simultaneous work. Taguette also lacks merging functionality but enables collaboration under certain setups.

Intercoder reliability is a feature in Atlas.ti, where users can calculate percent agreement and kappa measurements. NVivo provides reports on percentage agreement per code, while Dedoose offers kappa scores and Pearson's correlation reports. Taguette does not provide any intercoder reliability features.

Language support is robust across these platforms, with Atlas.ti and NVivo supporting virtually any language through Unicode, contingent on the appropriate language pack being installed. Dedoose allows data in any language, while Taguette supports most languages.

Conversion capabilities vary significantly. Atlas.ti can export as XML, although it does not support importing from NVivo. Conversely, NVivo can import Atlas.ti projects but lacks the ability to export as XML. Dedoose provides hands-on support for uploading projects from NVivo and Atlas.ti, while Taguette does not offer any conversion abilities.

Each software has its pros and cons. Atlas.ti is noted for its data classification simplicity, visualization tools, and support for direct survey imports, but it has a complex interface and lacks a strong online community. NVivo is user-friendly and supports survey imports, but its interface can be challenging to navigate. Dedoose excels in real-time teamwork and offers various visualization and analysis options, although it has a complicated web interface. Taguette is praised for being free and open-source, with a user-friendly interface, but it lacks advanced visualization capabilities and is limited to basic file types.