Effects of Qualitative Data Analysis Softwares in the Quality of Researches

This study aims to describe the effects of Qualitative Data Analysis Softwares (QDAS) in the quality of qualitative research from researchers’ perspective. What motivated this research was the divergence of opinions about the effects of QDAS on the quality of qualitative research. The theoretical framework was developed based on the literatures about quality criteria of qualitative research, strategies of quality promotion and adoption of QDAS. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with ten researchers with or without experience in the use of a QDAS. The analysis technique used was content analysis with the support of ATLAS.ti® software. The results showed that the use of a QDAS can potentiate six of the seven quality strategies considered, with emphasis on improvement of researcher’s coherence. The quality criteria more benefitted by the use were confirmability and credibility. As a disadvantage of the use of QDAS, the question of the researcher’s distance from the data emerged. The results contribute to the flourishment of the discussion about the effects of QDAS and encouraging the use of QDAS.