Qualitative Data Analysis

A research methodology for systematically examining non-numerical data such as interview transcripts, field notes, audio recordings, images, and videos to identify patterns, themes, and meanings. The process typically involves coding data segments, categorizing codes into themes, and interpreting relationships between themes. Popular software tools for QDA include NVivo, Atlas.Ti, MaxQDA, and RQDA, though these tools present significant accessibility barriers for blind and visually impaired researchers, who must rely on workarounds using screen readers with mainstream tools like spreadsheets, Markdown editors, or audio editing software. The inaccessibility of QDA tools is a barrier to the full participation of disabled researchers in academia.