Please note: This guide will be retired at the end of 2023.
- Please visit Deakin eResearch: training and events for NVivo training opportunities.
- QSR publishes a comprehensive user guide for Windows and Mac.
About NVivo
NVivo is software designed to enable qualitative and mixed-methods research. The developer is QSR International.
Although some of NVivo's advanced features are for dedicated qualitative researchers, NVivo can also provide significant help with any kind of analytical writing.
In this guide we focus on literature reviews. The same techniques are potentially applicable to:
- conference papers,
- articles,
- commentaries,
- book reviews,
- legal memoranda or submissions,
- student essays.
Install or Upgrade NVivo
You can download NVivo for free from the Deakin Software Library. Both Mac and Windows versions are available.
Current version - NVivo (Release 1)
Recently, the names of different NVivo versions have been a bit confusing. The publisher QSR calls the current version of NVivo simply NVivo, or NVivo (Release 1). In the Deakin Software Library, this version is called NVivo 20.
Compared to previous versions, NVivo 20 has a more modern interface and some streamlined functionality.
NVivo's core functions have worked the same way for some time. Help resources based on previous versions may look different in places, but they continue to be relevant as most changes are cosmetic.
Caution: Projects created or used in the current version of NVivo—NVivo (Release 1) or NVivo 20—are NOT compatible with the previous version, NVivo 12.
Mac vs Windows
There are important compatibility limitations when working across both Mac and Windows platforms. We discuss these in further detail on the next page of this guide.
About this Guide
This guide was originally written for NVivo 12. An update is in progress.
In this guide, we refer to the most recent version of NVivo as NVivo (Release 1).
Almost all of the functions in NVivo (Release 1) were available in NVivo 12, and the most noticeable updates are to the user interface. If you are using NVivo (Release 1), please be mindful that some of the screenshots and menu options shown in our guide may have changed.
QSR publishes a user guide for Windows and Mac that is gradually being updated for NVivo (Release 1).
Introductory Video Tutorials from QSR
QSR publishes introductory NVivo video tutorials for both Windows and Mac.
The first video in each QSR series is embedded below.
Video: Analysis in NVivo (Windows)
Click the play button below to watch the video Analysis in NVivo (Windows) (01:00).
Video: Analysis in NVivo 12 Mac
Click the play button below to watch the video on Analysis in NVivo 12 Mac (00:57).
Additional NVivo Resources
Additional resources are available from NVivo's developer QSR and third parties.
QSR YouTube channel
QSR's NVivo Youtube channel contains a wealth of training videos.
Here are links to three videos that relate specifically to literature reviews.
QSR Publications and Webinars
Publications by QSR introduce important aspects of NVivo for literature reviews/analytical writing:
- Exending Your Literature Review With NVivo (2 March 2021)
- Tackling the literature review (17 April 2017)
- How to approach thematic analysis
- How to create a research journal
For users interested in NVivo's more advanced features, QSR also offers:
- The User Guide, NVivo 10 for Windows: Getting Started
- live and on-demand webinars
Third Party Video Tutorials
Here are some recent in-depth videos covering NVivo and literature reviews:
- NVIVO for Literature Review - 29 February 2020 (1:13:16)
- Using NVivo for a literature review (Part 1 of 5) (10:27)
A popular tutorial entitled Improving Your Literature Review with NVivo 11 for Windows (42:00) was made by Ana Garcia of La Trobe University Library in 2015.
More recently, Dr Alan Shaw (Strategic Planet, 2017) made twin video guides directed at literature reviews:
Third Party Publications and Resource Guides
Flinders University has published a detailed guide focused on using NVivo and EndNote For Literature Reviews. Also available from Flinders is an NVivo Advanced Workbook relating to in-depth qualitative research.
La Trobe University publishes an NVivo Library Resource Guide.
Further Help
For software download issues, contact the Deakin IT service desk.
At this stage the Library is unable to provide support for NVivo, but if you are interested in further information or assistance, please contact the eResearch team: eresearch@deakin.edu.au .