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MSAT-640: Athletic Training Research Outcome

Materials used for library and other instruction for MSAT 640.

What are Qualitative Methods?

Qualitative Methods involve a researcher describing kinds of characteristics of people and events. Qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or interpret phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them. Examples of qualitative research include:

  • Interviews
  • Focus groups
  • Case Studies
  • Ethnographic Research
  • Narrative Inquiry
  • Naturalistic Observation
  • Participant Observation

Software for Data Analysis

  • Atlas.ti- "The program provides tools that let the user locate, code, and annotate findings in primary data material, to weigh and evaluate their importance, and to visualize complex relations between them." (Wikipedia)
  • Ethnographer
  • NVivo- QSR's NVivo is a popular tool among qualitative researchers. It helps researchers organize, manage, code, and analyze qualitative and mixed-methods research data.
  • QDAP, CAT, DiscoverText
  • CDC EZ-Text- Published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, EZ-Text is a software program developed to assist researchers create, manage, and analyze semi-structured qualitative databases. 

Using Excel for Qualitative Research