The intensive three-and-half-day Institute on Qualitative Research with ATLAS.ti, a qualitative data analysis platform, recently concluded with positive feedback from both the 22 Cal State San Bernardino faculty, staff and graduate students who participated, and the institute’s two instructors.
Participants said they benefited from their immersion in qualitative research and the expertise of the speakers during the institute, which took place from Sept. 6-9 on the CSUSB campus.
“The institute provided skills and language that I have already implemented in a journal manuscript draft,” said Nancy Acevedo-Gil, a professor of educational leadership and technology in the doctoral program of the College of Education.
Brad Owen, associate professor of communication studies, described it as “a challenging and stimulating growth experience that provides more tools for the research toolbox.”
The purpose of the institute was to assist scholars with their qualitative data analysis projects. The institute, along with one held earlier in the summer, was organized by Mihaela Popescu, a CSUSB associate professor of communication studies and the faculty associate with Academic Technologies and Innovation at the university.
Johnny Saldaña, who directed a day and a half workshop on the process of qualitative coding, said he was highly impressed by the wonderful and collegial environment, as well as by the receptiveness of the participants. “It was clear that they wanted to be here.”
Saldaña, a Professor Emeritus of theatre at Arizona State University’s School of Film, Dance , and Theatre in the Katherine K. Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, authored the “Coding Manual for Qualitative Researchers,” regarded as “the go-to handbook for all qualitative researchers.”
That was a bonus for Felix Zuniga, the director of project management and assessment with CSUSB’s Division of Information Technology Services.
“Exploring qualitative research with Saldaña was a huge opportunity for our campus,” Zuniga said. “Saldaña literally wrote ‘The Book’ on coding. Having the opportunity to work with colleagues and see how research unfolds and the thought process that goes behind it, that makes me feel like I am not alone. We learned with each example we saw in class.”
Trena Paulus, who guided the participants in their exploration of the software package ATLAS.ti for the rest of the institute, is a professor in the Department of Lifelong Education, Administration, and Policy at the University of Georgia and co-author of “Digital Tools for Qualitative Research,” one of the first books on digital technologies for qualitative research that integrates analytic strategies with a discussion of technological affordances.
A self-described “tenacious” researcher interested in how people learn, she is attracted by digital tools that can assist researchers with organizing and sometimes reshaping the process of research. Despite the fact that she considers herself to be a late adopter of technology who stumbled upon digital tools almost by accident, she has made it her research agenda to help qualitative researchers make informed decisions about which tools may be useful to them.
Like Saldaña, Paulus was also was impressed by the participants’ commitment and their research projects.
“Everybody has been very curious and eager to learn,” she said. “I was particularly impressed to see that people took a full week to be here. Additionally, having faculty, students and staff in the same room learning together has been simply inspiring.”
Paulus also graciously acknowledged the smooth organization of the institute.
“Coming here, I was nervous about teaching ATLAS.ti to users of both Mac and Windows, because the software is really different on different operating systems,” Paulus said. “Being able to collaborate with the organizer, Mihaela Popescu, was huge. She is systematic and proficient and, between the two of us, we made it work.”
Mark Agars, a professor of psychology, said: “It was great that we first learned core methodological concepts before getting into the intricacies of ATLAS.ti program. I am truly excited now about the different ways I can integrate these techniques into my research.”
Eric Cazares, a graduate student in psychology, added, “This institute is extremely important given that, as a graduate student, I have had no training in qualitative research. Having such a resource on campus strengthens my employability as I transition into the workforce.”
“Organizing an institute is challenging, but everybody in a position to help was very open and supportive,” said Popescu. “Big shout out to Jeff Thompson! I think we will see more research institutes in the future and I am looking forward to all of them.”
Visit the ATLAS.ti website for information on its software.
For more information on ATLAS.ti, contact Miheala Popescu at popescum@csusb.edu.