CAQDAS at a crossroads: Choices, controversies and challenges

Abstract

The field of Computer Assisted Qualitative Data AnalysiS (CAQDAS) is characterised by choices, controversies and challenges. This chapter first briefly outlines the history of the field and discusses choices between and within programs. It goes on to discuss persisting controversies around the appropriateness of using technology for qualitative data analysis. It then outlines challenges arising from these choices and controversies. The chapter concludes by discussing how the Five-Level QDA™ method, a CAQDAS pedagogy that transcends methodologies, software programs and teaching modes, addresses one of the key challenges: how to appropriately enable researchers with varied needs to harness CAQDAS packages powerfully.