The most useful result of Coding with NVivo, especially for a literature review, is the Codes. Each Code contains the sections of text you have allocated to the theme the Code represents.
As explained earlier, some qualitative researchers refer to Code results as Coding Reports. Here we will be using the term Code for simplicity.
The following image shows a Code displayed as text.
Here is a Code in the form of a highlighted PDF.
A Framework Matrix is a grid generated within NVivo which can be exported as a spreadsheet. It is a good way to see all your Coding at a glance.
To set up a Framework Matrix for a literature review, you first need to create a Case for each source document. (In qualitative research, Cases are often used to keep track of research subjects such as interviewees, e.g. Jenny, 33, copyright lawyer.)
Now create the Framework Matrix.
Queries are usually most useful after your Coding is significantly progressed or completed. You can use Queries to assist with synthesising content for your literature review. The most relevant Queries for a literature review are Text Search Queries and Word Frequency Queries.
NVivo's Query Wizard simplifies the Query process and is our primary focus here.
To access the Query Wizard, select the Explore tab and choose Query Wizard from the top ribbon.
The first two options in the main Query Wizard dialogue box are:
For each of these options, selecting the kind of Query you want to run is the first step of four.
A Text Search searches for specific text across all or any of the sources in your NVivo project file (i.e. Files, Externals, Memos, etc.).
Note that the Query Wizard does not allow a Compound Text Search Query, i.e. a Query which combines the results of two text searches. Information about these more sophisticated searches is provided by QSR here.
Word Frequency Searches are discussed earlier in this guide here. After Coding, running Word Frequency Searches which are limited to Codes may produce particularly relevant results. You will have already filtered out a lot of irrelevant information.
To use the Query Wizard to perform a Word Frequency Search, select the second option in the Wizard dialogue box. From there,