At 14:41 11/02/99 EST, you wrote:
>Can someone please tell me the difference between Ethnograph and WinMax?
They
>seem like very similar programs at first glance. If I were going to purchase
>one, which would be the best choice?
>
>Deb Berke
Deb,
Sorry I am late answering this - apologies if its already been dealt with...
There are differences of course - and whichever you choose I am sure you
will be able to use it effectively -
a couple of differences that come to mind however -
Winmax - allows searches for strings and words(verbatim content), and
selections of words in the data + with surrounding context - plus the
ability to selectively or globally CODE the finds -
Winmax - you can code with 'weight' (an elegant toy - which allows
retrieval of segments on the basis of a user defined weight range applied
to 'activated' codes) - but you don't have to code with weight - its just
an extra.
Winmax, Fewer steps in mechanisms for retrieval - activation - so easy.
...Its been out longer - so maybe more tested?
Ethnograph: a cheaper ( real bargain) price for 'Student' version - not
sure how the student qualification is defined.
YOu can drop normal word processed text straight into the Eth editor window
and auto format - (just a couple of things need to be considered before
this is done) - this appeals to those for whom the reduction of the word
processed file into 'text only' represents a step too far.
Ethnograph : traditional Ethnograph codemapping (seeing a printed version
of the coded document) with margin brackets indicating the application of
codes - has always been enjoyed -
but printing out an _intensively_ coded document, to see how it has been
coded, either in Winmax or Ethnograph - is not the greatest thing since
sliced bread - because the text is interrupted by code headers above each
coded segment.
But at least its possible to see how a doc has been coded as a whole inboth
s/w - not always possible in others.
Well I just selected a couple of differences - there are many more subtle
differences - which don't create huge dissimilarities in the numbers of
things you can do - 'they feed you just the same - but they taste
different'. In the end you must try them out(use demo versions where
available)and preferably with your own data - spend some quality time -
trying things out with the data you love.
....apparently Sage have the CD version for the Winmax demo and are
expecting to get the Ethnograph demo shortly.
cheers
Ann Lewins
___________________________________________________________________________
Ann Lewins, CAQDAS Networking Project, Dept of Sociology
University of Surrey, GUILDFORD GU2 5XH, U.K
tel +44(0)1483 259455 fax +44(0)1483 259551
CAQDAS WWW page: http://www.soc.surrey.ac.uk/caqdas/
To join(leave)qual-software:
send untitled message to [log in to unmask]
in text enter: join(leave)qual-software your first name your second name
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|