4. Coding Files in NVivo

What is Coding?

Coding is the procedure by which researchers transform recorded data into theoretically meaningful categories. This is why it's really important to have a clear research question in mind. (SAGE Methods Map)

Coding in NVivo is stored in "Nodes" which is a really confusing bit of terminology. Tom Richards - one of the creators of NVivo - writes:

"Why did we call them nodes? Because in NUD*IST 1 they could only be located within a tree structure, to be used as a catalog that enables location of any item by working down through the concepts from general to specific - instead of remembering category names" (2002: 200)

Today, I like to think of nodes as containers which store your research data. Traditional qualitative coding often involved stacks of highlighters and loose paper (one of the reasons for NVivo's conception was that a toddler ate one of Lyn Richards important quotes). With NVivo, all the information gathered during the coding process is stored and organised in one project file.

Video: Coding Files in NVivo

For Windows

Coding in NVivo 12 (Windows) by QSR (2018)

For Mac

Coding in NVivo 21 Mac by QSR (2018)

Task: Code Files in NVivo

1. Open up a file you previously imported by double-clicking on it.

2. Open up the nodes folder on the left (you should have your file open on the right, with the nodes window open to the left of it)

3. Find an interesting bit of text and highlight it.

4. Drag that highlighted text into the nodes window to create a new node. (You can also create a new node manually before this)

5. Try this a few times to get the feel for coding in NVivo

Wrapping up

Hopefully this module has introduced you to the basics of NVivo. Coding and file organisation is a time-consuming but vital part of using the tool, and is what most researchers spend most of their time doing with the software.

By the end of this module, you should know how to:

• Navigate NVivo's User Interface

• Import files

• Create nodes

• Code textual data

You should also understand where NVivo can be situated within your broader qualitative or mixed-methods research methodology, and the importance of your research question.

In the next module, you'll get more hands on experience conducting research with NVivo as we explore it in more depth.

Thank You!

If you have any feedback on this module, please fill in the feedback form here.

To stay up to date with the NVivo community, you can join the University of Melbourne's NVivo Facebook group here or you can sign up for the monthly community newsletter here.

This module was prepared by Alex Shermon. You can follow him on Twitter here or on LinkedIn here.

If you have any questions about this module, or NVivo more broadly, you can get in touch with Alex via email at [e-mail]