Introduction to NVivo for qualitative and mixed-methods analysis (Online)

Key information

Start date:
02 July 2025
Attendance dates:

02, 03 July 2025

Time commitment:
09:30- 16:15
Venue:
Distance learning
Contact details:

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Overview

NVivo is a powerful software for the qualitative and mixed-methods analysis of text, audio, video, survey and social media data.

This two day course provides a comprehensive overview of NVivo and an opportunity for participants to practice tasks using their own data. The focus is on gaining confidence in setting up a project efficiently, managing and organising data, exploring and conceptualising data and interrogating and visualising data.

The course combines discussion, demonstration and hands-on work, including:

  • Contextual discussions – developmental, methodological and analytical principles
  • Software Overview –interface, architecture, tools
  • Analytic Planning – ensuring analytic strategies drive the appropriate use of software tools
  • Guided Instruction – step-by-step teaching in the operation of NVivo and the use of tools for analytic tasks
  • Individual Support – some time for participants to discuss their projects with the Tutor.

During the first day sample data are used to become familiar with tools, and the whole group follows common tasks together and practices exercises individually. Work is structured to provide step-by-step support.

During the second day participants may set up their own NVivo project and work with their own research materials if they wish. Alternatively they may continue to work with the sample data. The first part of the day focusses on translating the tasks covered in day one into practice. Individuals and teams work independently, with support from the tutor. The remainder of the day focuses on experimenting with more sophisticated uses of tools. Possibilities and implications are discussed, demonstrated and practiced.

Participants are encouraged to bring their own research materials to work with (this could include transcribed primary data, literature files, reports pertinent to the project, etc.), although sample materials can also be provided.

Please note: The tutor will demonstrate using NVivo 14 for Windows. Participants using the new NVivo or its predecessors (e.g  “R1” -released March 2020, or NVivo v.12) for Window or Mac are welcome to attend but the course focuses on functions available in the Windows version of NVivo14, which are not all the same for the Mac version. See the Lumivero website for product details.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course participants will be able to:

  • Understand the structure of NVivo and how it can be used throughout a research project. 
  • Navigate around the software and operate it to undertake analysis.
  • Understand the importance of analytic planning in harnessing NVivo tools powerfully to answer individual research questions.
  • Set-up an NVivo project to reflect initial research design and change structures as a research project progresses. 
  • Identify NVivo tools that can be used to fulfil specific analytic tasks, including codes, memos, attribute values, queries and maps.
  • Know where to access relevant resources to support continued NVivo use. 

Course content

  • Introduction to NVivo’s components
  • Tips for data preparation, transcription, import and organisation
  • Data exploration and familiarisation
  • Coding strategies – inductive, deductive approaches; manual and automated approaches; coding in a literature review. 
  • Organising materials to factual characteristics such as socio-demographics (attributes) to facilitate interrogation.
  • Use of writing and visualisation tools to reflect on data and processes 
  • Querying and outputting

Learning and teaching methods

  • Presentations
  • Demonstrations
  • Guided hands-on exercises
  • Independent hands-on work. 

Course leader

Dr Sarah Bulloch

Teaching Fellow

Reading list

There is no required pre-course reading. However, the following might be helpful resources with your further work with NVivo:

  • Silver, C., & Lewins, A. (2014). Using software in qualitative research: A step-by-step guide (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Woolf, N. H., & Silver, C. (2018). Qualitative analysis with NVivo: The Five-Level QDA method. NY: Routledge.

Dr Sarah Bulloch has been using and teaching CAQDAS packages for many years and is an experienced researcher. She has undertaken quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research using dedicated software and has worked in academic and applied settings. 

Entry requirements

No prior knowledge is necessary.

This course is delivered online using Zoom. In order to attend you will need a computer (Mac or Windows) that has access to the internet, and a microphone (inbuilt or external). We encourage participants to share their image using a webcam to foster dialogue and interaction, but this is not a requirement. 

You will need NVivo (Version 14, R1, or 12) installed and working on your computer ahead of the session to get the most out of the workshop. If you do not currently have access to the software, the joining instructions to the course will provide details on how to access a 14 day free trial, closer to the time. This course assumes participants have a broad understanding of qualitative and/or mixed methods methodologies, but assumes no prior knowledge about NVivo.

You may like to bring your own research materials with which to work on the second day (e.g. literature files (PDFs are fine), transcripts of interviews/focus-groups, social media content, open-ended survey responses, documentary evidence, visual materials (still images, videos) etc.)

Recognition of prior learning

None

Fees and funding

Price per person:

£191

UGPN student discount

£255

Students (all non-UGPN)

£264

UGPN staff discount

£310

Education and charitable sector applicants

£435

Government and commercial sector applicants

What these fees include

Handout of slides. Post course email with links to further resources.

Funding opportunities

Participants applying for either UGPN discount will need to use their University email address to be eligible.

  • North Carolina (NC) State University: @ncsu.edu  
  • University of Sāo Paulo (USP): @usp.br 
  • University of Wollongong: @uow.edu.au 
  • University of Surrey: @surrey.ac.uk

All staff and students at any of the above institutions are now eligible for the UGPN discount as part of UGPN.

How to apply

Applications will be through our online store.

Apply now

Terms and conditions

When you accept an offer of a place at the University of Surrey, you are agreeing to comply with our policies and regulations and our terms and conditions. You are also confirming you have read and understood the University's prospective student privacy notice.

Further details of our terms and conditions will follow.

Disclaimer

This online prospectus has been prepared and published in advance of the commencement of the course. The University of Surrey has used its reasonable efforts to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content or additional costs) may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read the full disclaimer.

Course location and contact details

Campus location

Stag Hill

Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught. 

Carrie Lee Administrative Officer (Short Courses)
Address

University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey GU2 7XH