Review key features and terminology, data preparation tips, create a project and import data.
Learn how Dr. Wonderly approached reliable, meaningful data analysis.
Dedoose was extremely helpful for my first experience conducting qualitative data analysis independently. The platform is very user-friendly, and the built-in tutorials were especially valuable as I learned to navigate the process on my own. The software’s affordability also made it a great fit for a PhD student budget. One particularly useful feature was the inter-rater reliability Kappa statistic, which helped me train as a new coder and provided a clear way to quantify coding agreement. I presented the findings of this study at a regional conference, where I reported the Kappa value. Many colleagues asked about how to calculate it, which gave me the opportunity to share how intuitive and accessible Dedoose is for qualitative research. This study was both challenging and exciting, as it was the first qualitative research project I independently conducted to fulfill the research requirements for my PhD program.
When I embarked on my first qualitative research project aspart of the pilot study requirement for my PhD program, I felt both excitement and apprehension. Diving into qualitative data analysis independently was a daunting task, but it also marked a significant milestone in my growth as a researcher. Fortunately, I had Dedoose to guide me through the process. Its user-friendly design, accessible tutorials, and affordability made it an invaluable resource. What I learned from this experience not only helped me complete my study but also shaped my approach to analyzing complex, human-centered data.
Like many graduate students, I faced the challenge of learning a new analysis platform while also learning how to conduct qualitative analysis for the first time. Dedoose offered a seamless entry point. Its tutorials provided a step-by-step orientation to coding, memoing, and data management, which helped to reduce the steep learning curve I had anticipated.The interface was intuitive, allowing me to focus less on figuring out how the software worked and more on developing my qualitative research skills.
Affordability was another crucial factor. Many qualitative research tools are cost-prohibitive for students, but Dedoose’s pricing made it accessible on a PhD student budget. I often recommend it to peers for this reason alone. But what really set Dedoose apart in my experience was its ability to integrate rigorous methodological features—especially around reliability—into the research workflow.
One of the features in Dedoose is the ability to calculate inter-rater reliability using Cohen’s Kappa statistic. This function was especially useful for me as a new coder.
In this study, two independent coders worked side by side to make sense of interview transcripts—real people’s stories, experiences, and emotions. At first, when we checked our level of agreement in Dedoose, the score showed “substantial agreement.” It was encouraging, but also humbling. We realized that even with all our preparation, there was still room to grow in how we were interpreting and honoring participants’ words.
So, we went back to the codebook. We talked through definitions, debated the nuances, and asked ourselves hard questions about what the data was really telling us. It was a reminder that qualitative research is not just technical—it’s deeply human work that requires patience, humility, and collaboration.
When we recalculated the Kappa after making adjustments, we reached “excellent agreement.” That number mattered, but what mattered more was the process: the conversations, the clarifications, the shared commitment to doing justice to people’s stories. This experience didn’t just strengthen the reliability of our findings—it deepened my appreciation for the heart of qualitative research, where rigor and empathy go hand in hand.
Presenting this study at a regional conference was both nerve-wracking and rewarding. For the first time, I had the opportunity to share the results of a project I had designed and executed, with the support from my PhD program. When I reported the Kappa values, many colleagues at the conference approached me afterward to ask how I had calculated them. This sparked conversations about the importance of inter-rater reliability and gave me the chance to highlight how accessible Dedoose made this process. I realized that beyond helping me as a student, Dedoose could serve as a bridge for other researchers seeking approachable tools for rigorous analysis.
Looking back, I see several key lessons that emerged from this project:
As I continue my journey as a researcher, I carry forward both the methodological lessons and the substantive insights from this project.Working in settings shaped by complexity and emotion has shown me how vital it is to support individuals and families through challenging experiences. By bringing together diverse perspectives, my work underscored the importance of collaboration and holistic approaches to care and research.
At the same time, my experience with Dedoose has shaped howI think about qualitative research. The software doesn’t replace the intellectual work of interpretation, but it provides the scaffolding—organization, transparency, and reliability—that makes that work possible.
When I first started doing qualitative research, I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of data: transcripts, notes, memos, codes that seemed to multiply overnight. I had sticky notes taped across my desk, color-coded highlighters bleeding through interview printouts, and endless spreadsheets that left me wondering if I was spending more time organizing my research than actually analyzing it. It felt chaotic, and honestly, a little discouraging.
Learning how to use Dedoose didn’t make the work“easy”—qualitative analysis is never easy—but it did give me a framework that made the process feel manageable. Instead of drowning in text, I could start to see patterns. Instead of second-guessing my consistency, I had a clear audit trail of how codes were applied and refined. And instead of feeling like I was working in isolation, the collaborative features made it possible to share and compare coding with colleagues, strengthening both the rigor and confidence in our interpretations.
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that software can support, but never replace, the heart of qualitative research: interpretation. The insights come from you—the researcher—your careful reading, questioning, and connecting of ideas. What Dedoose (or similar tools) offers is a kind of scaffolding: it holds everything in place so you can climb higher without losing your footing.
For any student or early-career researcher who feels intimidated by qualitative analysis, I can confidently say: having the right tools makes a world of difference. Start small, experiment with the features, and give yourself time to learn. I really appreciated the learning environment to play around in and learn from, before moving onto the “real” data. The structure that software provides doesn’t just make the process more efficient—it frees up your mental energy for the part that really matters:making meaning out of your data.
My first independent qualitative research study was both challenging and deeply rewarding. With Dedoose, I was able to navigate the complexities of coding, ensure reliability through Kappa statistics, and extract meaningful themes from the voices of my participants. The study illuminated critical needs and barriers in supporting families, while also offering actionable recommendations for change. Most importantly, it reinforced for me the power of qualitative research to capture the human side of healthcare—and the importance of tools that make such research accessible and rigorous.
For students, researchers, and clinicians alike, the message is clear: thoughtful research, supported by reliable tools, can drive meaningful improvements in care. And for me, this first step into qualitative research has opened a pathway toward a program of inquiry that will continue to shape my career and, I hope, the care of families facing some of life’s most difficult moments.
