Teaching Atlas.ti™ in South Africa: Reflections on Doctoral Preparedness

Abstract

Teaching qualitative data analysis using computer software such as Atlas.ti™ to masters and doctoral students as well as university colleagues has presented a number of challenges together with moments of inspiration. The researcher has offered some brief reflective considerations, which have been conceptually located in postgraduate research and doctoral preparedness. Given the low number of PhD students who graduate in South Africa (SA), many scholars have inquired into the lack of progress of postgraduate research. Qualitative research, and in particular qualitative data analysis has not enjoyed structured support at universities, let alone computer assisted qualitative analysis support. Little is written in the qualitative data analysis literature about the impact and value of using Atlas.ti™ in postgraduate work, particularly in the South African context. Therefore this reflective paper hopes to make some inroads into this field of study.