Surveys are the most common type of research methodology in library literature; however, surveys don’t often gather the depth of information needed to make impactful change at our libraries. Some of the most revealing information librarians receive comes from the thoughts, perspectives, and experiences of our users. Over the past year, research & instruction librarians at the University of St. Thomas have conducted action research projects to collect this qualitative data to improve library instruction and services. The data analysis required in these projects was made possible with the help of computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS, pronounced like that pointy green plant found in the desert). Using NVivo, one of the most popular CAQDAS tools, we have completed and are continuing to work on analysis projects with data from course syllabi, interviews with faculty about information literacy, student research diaries, and more. During this session we will discuss the benefits of using a product like NVivo, our experiences with it in past and current projects, as well as outline our efforts to build support for NVivo users. Alternatives to NVivo will also be presented. See how using software like this can improve your projects and benefit library users.
