Hi Dora,
Your message had rapid responses about software other than what you're
using, so let me assure you that yes, legal research is one of the
growing fields for work with N6 and also with NVivo. A lot of the site
licenses for QSR software now include legal studies. It's not surprising
- legal research has some core features of all qualitative research -
the need to explore words, learn from the data, build understanding
iteratively and search rigorously. It's one of a growing number of
disciplines where the qualitative tools are obviously relevant,though
the terminology of QDA has not been used there (historical research and
geographical/spatial research are others). It's great to learn new
methods from these. The needs for example of evidence analysis are
interestingly related to goals of most qualitative methods. I can't name
specific projects of course, but if you post to the QSR Forum,
researchers might discuss their work with you in confidence.
In the design of NVivo 7, legal research was a contributor, because it's
one of several areas where researchers want QDA analysis tools but have
good reason to push the usual size-bounds of "traditional" small
qualitative projects. Often there are very large numbers of online
documents to search and analyse, and sometimes the requirements for
comparative analysis are very demanding. But the traditional tools for
subtle and theory-building analysis are still needed - so those bounds
need to be extended.
cheers,
Lyn
Lyn Richards,
Director, Research Services, QSR.
(Email) [log in to unmask]
(Ph) +61 (03) 9840-1100. (Fax) +61 (03) 9840-1500
(Snail) Second floor, 651 Doncaster Rd.,
Doncaster, Vic 3108, Australia.
http://www.qsrinternational.com
> -----Original Message-----
> From: qual-software [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Dora
> Sent: Friday, 29 April 2005 12:40 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: NVivo 7 - News from QSR
>
> I am a qualitative sociologist who has been using N6 for my research.
> Right
> now, I am also in Law School, and I was wondering if anyone has any
> experience with using qualitative software for legal research. I've
> experimented with it and found it pretty helpful, since I'm doing
content
> analysis, looking for specific keywords and "themes," etc... I would
like
> to
> know if there is anyone else playing with this idea.
>
> Dora Acherman, Ph.D.
> Florida International University -
> Project Director,
> The Study on Career Development in Scientific Research
> Minority Opportunity in Research/ MORE Program
> HLS II Building, Room 387 - University Park
> Miami, FL 33199
> Telephone: (305) 348-2604
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>
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