{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T08:31:20Z","timestamp":1776846680211,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":62,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,12]],"date-time":"2023-10-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1697068800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Narodowe Centrum Nauki","award":["2016\/23\/B\/HS6\/00301"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2016\/23\/B\/HS6\/00301"]}]},{"name":"Narodowe Centrum Nauki","award":["CDL-CTTRI-248-SGRH\/2022"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CDL-CTTRI-248-SGRH\/2022"]}]},{"name":"Narodowe Centrum Nauki","award":["UIDB\/00194\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00194\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Narodowe Centrum Nauki","award":["UIDP\/00194\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/00194\/2020"]}]},{"name":"national funds through FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia (Portugal)","award":["2016\/23\/B\/HS6\/00301"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2016\/23\/B\/HS6\/00301"]}]},{"name":"national funds through FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia (Portugal)","award":["CDL-CTTRI-248-SGRH\/2022"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CDL-CTTRI-248-SGRH\/2022"]}]},{"name":"national funds through FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia (Portugal)","award":["UIDB\/00194\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00194\/2020"]}]},{"name":"national funds through FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e a Tecnologia (Portugal)","award":["UIDP\/00194\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/00194\/2020"]}]},{"name":"CIDTFF","award":["2016\/23\/B\/HS6\/00301"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2016\/23\/B\/HS6\/00301"]}]},{"name":"CIDTFF","award":["CDL-CTTRI-248-SGRH\/2022"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CDL-CTTRI-248-SGRH\/2022"]}]},{"name":"CIDTFF","award":["UIDB\/00194\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/00194\/2020"]}]},{"name":"CIDTFF","award":["UIDP\/00194\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/00194\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Social Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The differentiation of contemporary approaches to qualitative data analysis can seem daunting even for experienced social science researchers. Especially when they move forward in the data analysis process from general analytical strategies used in qualitative research to more specific approaches for different types of qualitative data, including interviews, text, audio, images, videos, and so-called virtual data, by discovering the domain ontology of the qualitative research field, we see that there are more than twice as many different classes of data analysis methods as qualitative research methods. This article critically reflects on qualitative research and the qualitative computer data analysis process, emphasising its significance in harnessing digital opportunities and shaping collaborative work. Using our extensive analytical and research project experience, the last research results, and a literature review, we try to show the impact of new technologies and digital possibilities on our thinking. We also try to do the qualitative data analysis. The essence of this procedure is a dialectical interplay between the new world of digital technology and the classic methodology. The use of digital possibilities in qualitative research practices shapes the researcher\u2019s identity and their analytical and research workshop. Moreover, it teaches collaborative thinking and teamwork and fosters the development of new analytical, digital, and Information Technology (IT) skills. Imagining contemporary qualitative research and data analysis in the humanities and social sciences is difficult. Opening to modern technologies in computer-based qualitative data analysis shapes our interpretation frameworks and changes the optics and perception of research problems.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/socsci12100570","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,12]],"date-time":"2023-10-12T12:46:13Z","timestamp":1697114773000},"page":"570","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":64,"title":["Qualitative Research in Digital Era: Innovations, Methodologies and Collaborations"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8892-099X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Grzegorz","family":"Bryda","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CAQDAS TM Lab, Institute of Sociology, Jagiellonian University, 31-007 Krak\u00f3w, Poland"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4644-5879","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ant\u00f3nio Pedro","family":"Costa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research Centre on Didactics and Technology in the Education of Trainers, Department of Education and Psychology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"461","DOI":"10.1177\/1354067X06069947","article-title":"Considering Diversity: Multivoicedness in International Academic Collaboration","volume":"12","author":"Akkerman","year":"2006","journal-title":"Culture & Psychology"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Berelson, Bernard (1984). Content Analysis in Communication Research, Hafner Press."},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"1","article-title":"The Computational Turn: Thinking About the Digital Humanities","volume":"12","author":"Berry","year":"2011","journal-title":"Culture Machine"},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Brent, Edward E., and Anderson, Ronald E. (1990). Computer Applications in the Social Sciences, Temple University Press."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1177\/1525822X06287602","article-title":"Using Computer-Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software to Develop a Grounded Theory Project","volume":"18","author":"Bringer","year":"2006","journal-title":"Field Methods"},{"key":"ref_6","first-page":"3","article-title":"Open Online Research: Developing Software and Method for Collaborative Interpretation","volume":"17","author":"Moerman","year":"2016","journal-title":"Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung\/Forum: Qualitative Social Research"},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Brown, David (2002). Going Digital and Staying Qualitative: Some Alternative Strategies for Digitizing the Qualitative Research Process. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung\/Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 3."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"Niedbalski, Jakub (2014). Metody i Techniki Odkrywania Wiedzy. Narz\u0119dzia CAQDAS w Procesie Analizy Danych Jako\u015bciowych, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu \u0141\u00f3dzkiego. Available online: http:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/11089\/24464."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"Costa, Ant\u00f3nio Pedro, Reis, Lu\u00eds Paulo, and Moreira, Ant\u00f3nio (2019). From CAQDAS to Text Mining. The Domain Ontology as a Model of Knowledge Representation about Qualitative Research Practices, Springer International Publishing AG. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"120","DOI":"10.18778\/1733-8069.16.3.08","article-title":"Whats and Hows? The Practice-Based Typology of Narrative Analyses","volume":"16","author":"Bryda","year":"2020","journal-title":"Przegl\u0105d Socjologii Jako\u015bciowej"},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Bryda, Grzegorz, and Tomanek, Krzysztof (2014). Metody i Techniki Odkrywania Wiedzy. Narz\u0119dzia CAQDAS w Procesie Analizy Danych Jako\u015bciowych, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu L\u00f3dzkiego. Available online: http:\/\/dspace.uni.lodz.pl\/xmlui\/bitstream\/handle\/11089\/24532\/191-217-bryda.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Bryda, Grzegorz, Natalia, Martini, Joanna, Gajda, and Daniel, P\u0142atek Domain Ontology. The New Method of Mapping the Field of Qualitative Research Practices, Przegl\u0105d Socjologii Jako\u015bciowej (under final review)."},{"key":"ref_13","unstructured":"Cornish, Flora, Gillespie, Alex, and Zittoun, Tania (2014). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Data Analysis, SAGE Publications Ltd.. Available online: http:\/\/methods.sagepub.com\/book\/the-sage-handbook-of-qualitative-data-analysis\/n6.xml."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.21664\/2238-8869.2016v5i2.p153-161","article-title":"Cloud Computing Em Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o Qualitativa: Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o Colaborativa Atrav\u00e9s Do Software WebQDA. [Cloud Computing in Qualitative Research: Collaborative Research Through WebQDA Software]","volume":"5","author":"Costa","year":"2016","journal-title":"Fronteiras: Journal of Social, Technological and Environmental Science"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.24140\/issn.1645-7250.rle59.04","article-title":"Qualitative Research Methods: Do Digital Tools Open Promising Trends?","volume":"59","author":"Costa","year":"2023","journal-title":"Revista Lus\u00f3fona de Educa\u00e7\u00e3o"},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Rocha, \u00c1lvaro, Reis, Lu\u00eds Paulo, Cota, Manuel P\u00e9rez, Su\u00e1rez, Octavio Santana, and Gon\u00e7alves, Ramiro (2016). Actas de La 11 a Conferencia Ib\u00e9rica de Sistemas y Tecnolog\u00edas de Informaci\u00f3n, AISTI\u2014Associa\u00e7\u00e3o Ib\u00e9rica de Sistemas e Tecnologias de Informa\u00e7\u00e3o."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"61","article-title":"O Trabalho Colaborativo Apoiado pelas Tecnologias: O Exemplo da Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o Qualitativa [The Collaborative Work supported by Technologies: The Example of Qualitative Research]","volume":"17","author":"Costa","year":"2017","journal-title":"Educa\u00e7\u00e3o a Dist\u00e2ncia e Pr\u00e1ticas Educativas Comunicacionais e Interculturais"},{"key":"ref_18","unstructured":"Crichton, Susan (2012). Online Research Methods in Urban and Planning Studies, IGI Global."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"606","DOI":"10.1177\/1077800415622505","article-title":"Speculating on the Future of Digital Tools for Qualitative Research","volume":"22","author":"Davidson","year":"2016","journal-title":"Qualitative Inquiry"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dicks, Bella (2012). Digital Qualitative Research Methods, SAGE Publications. {SAGE} Benchmarks in Social Research Methods.","DOI":"10.4135\/9781446261385"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.24908\/ss.v12i2.4776","article-title":"Datafication, Dataism and Dataveillance: Big Data between Scientific Paradigm and Ideology","volume":"12","author":"Dijck","year":"2014","journal-title":"Surveillance & Society"},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Fielding, Nigel G., and Lee, Raymond M. (1991). Using Computers in Qualitative Research, SAGE Publications."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1451","DOI":"10.1177\/14614448211046616","article-title":"Datafication Research: Mapping the Field for a Future Agenda","volume":"25","author":"Flensburg","year":"2023","journal-title":"New Media & Society"},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"176","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-61121-1_16","article-title":"In Case of Doubt See the Manual: A Comparative Analysis of (Self)Learning Packages Qualitative Research Software","volume":"621","author":"Freitas","year":"2018a","journal-title":"Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing"},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"97","article-title":"Learn for Yourself: The Self-Learning Tools for Qualitative Analysis Software Packages","volume":"32","author":"Freitas","year":"2018b","journal-title":"Digital Education Review"},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"441","DOI":"10.1177\/1468794110366802","article-title":"Pluralism in Qualitative Research: The Impact of Different Researchers and Qualitative Approaches on the Analysis of Qualitative Data","volume":"10","author":"Frost","year":"2010","journal-title":"Qualitative Research"},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Glaser, Barney G., and Strauss, Anselm L. (1965). Awareness of Dying, Aldine Publishing Company. [10th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"394","DOI":"10.1177\/1049732304272015","article-title":"Qualitative Teamwork Issues and Strategies: Coordination through Mutual Adjustment","volume":"15","author":"Hall","year":"2005","journal-title":"Qualitative Health Research"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"463","DOI":"10.1080\/13594320050203085","article-title":"Co-Research: A New Methodology for New Times","volume":"9","author":"Hartley","year":"2000","journal-title":"European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"473","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2013.06.008","article-title":"Experts\u2019 Views on Digital Competence: Commonalities and Differences","volume":"68","author":"Janssen","year":"2013","journal-title":"Computers & Education"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jemielniak, Dariusz (2020). Thick Big Data: Doing Digital Social Sciences, Oxford University Press.","DOI":"10.1093\/oso\/9780198839705.001.0001"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"205395171452848","DOI":"10.1177\/2053951714528481","article-title":"Big Data, New Epistemologies and Paradigm Shifts","volume":"1","author":"Kitchin","year":"2014a","journal-title":"Big Data & Society"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kitchin, Rob (2014b). The Data Revolution: Big Data, Open Data, Data Infrastructures & Their Consequences, SAGE Publications Ltd.","DOI":"10.4135\/9781473909472"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"721","DOI":"10.1126\/science.1167742","article-title":"Computational Social Science","volume":"323","author":"Lazer","year":"2009","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"Lindgren, Simon (2022). Digital Media & Society, Sage."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1177\/105649269212002","article-title":"Insider\/Outsider Research Teams: Collaboration Across Diverse Perspectives","volume":"1","author":"Louis","year":"1992","journal-title":"Journal of Management Inquiry"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.5172\/mra.455.2.1.105","article-title":"Rigor and Flexibility in Computer-Based Qualitative Research: Introducing the Coding Analysis Toolkit","volume":"2","author":"Lu","year":"2008","journal-title":"International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"233285841989196","DOI":"10.1177\/2332858419891963","article-title":"A Path to Greater Credibility: Large-Scale Collaborative Education Research","volume":"5","author":"Makel","year":"2019","journal-title":"AERA Open"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"124","DOI":"10.1007\/s12124-007-9014-y","article-title":"East\u2013West European Project: Transforming and Shaping Research Through Collaboration","volume":"41","year":"2007","journal-title":"Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science"},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"McCrohon, Mark (, January November). Towards a Digital Methodology for Qualitative Research. Presented at the Contemporary Approaches to Research in Mathematics, Science, Health and Environmental Education Symposium, Virtual."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"306","DOI":"10.1108\/QRJ-06-2016-0034","article-title":"QualiBuddy: An Online Tool to Improve Research Skills in Qualitative Data Analysis","volume":"17","author":"Mertens","year":"2017","journal-title":"Qualitative Research Journal"},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"Negroponte, Nicholas (1996). Being Digital, Vintage Books. 1. Vintage."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103752","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compedu.2019.103752","article-title":"Digital Competencies: A Review of the Literature and Applications in the Workplace","volume":"146","author":"Beinicke","year":"2020","journal-title":"Computers and Education"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"160940691989922","DOI":"10.1177\/1609406919899220","article-title":"Intercoder Reliability in Qualitative Research: Debates and Practical Guidelines","volume":"19","author":"Joffe","year":"2020","journal-title":"International Journal of Qualitative Methods"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"352","DOI":"10.1177\/160940691201100404","article-title":"Qualitative Research in the Digital Era: Obstacles and Opportunities","volume":"11","author":"Palys","year":"2012","journal-title":"International Journal of Qualitative Methods"},{"key":"ref_46","unstructured":"Paulus, Trena, Lester, Jessica, and Dempster, Paul (2014). Digital Tools for Qualitative Research, SAGE Publications Ltd."},{"key":"ref_47","first-page":"2838","article-title":"The Case for Computational Competence and Transversal Skills: Using Digital Tools and Spaces for Qualitative Research","volume":"28","author":"Pope","year":"2023","journal-title":"The Qualitative Report"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1123\/jtpe.2017-0084","article-title":"A Practical Guide to Collaborative Qualitative Data Analysis","volume":"37","author":"Richards","year":"2018","journal-title":"Journal of Teaching in Physical Education"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"768","DOI":"10.1177\/1077800417731089","article-title":"Strategies for the Effective Use of NVivo in a Large-Scale Study: Qualitative Analysis and the Repeal of Don\u2019t Ask, Don\u2019t Tell","volume":"23","author":"Robins","year":"2017","journal-title":"Qualitative Inquiry"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"437","DOI":"10.1177\/1468794105056922","article-title":"Hierarchical Qualitative Research Teams: Refining the Methodology","volume":"5","year":"2005","journal-title":"Qualitative Research"},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rogers, Richard (2009). The End of the Virtual: Digital Methods, Amsterdam University Press.","DOI":"10.5117\/9789056295936"},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Schallmo, Daniel, and Tidd, Joseph (2021). Digitalization: Approaches, Case Studies, and Tools for Strategy, Transformation and Implementation, Springer. Management for Professionals.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-69380-0"},{"key":"ref_53","unstructured":"Schwarz, Ori (2021). Sociological Theory for Digital Society: The Codes That Bind Us Together, Polity Press."},{"key":"ref_54","unstructured":"Seror, Jeremie (2012). The Encyclopedia of Applied Linguistics, Wiley."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e89","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1369-7625.2012.00810.x","article-title":"Hearing the Voices of Service User Researchers in Collaborative Qualitative Data Analysis: The Case for Multiple Coding","volume":"16","author":"Sweeney","year":"2013","journal-title":"Health Expectations"},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"154","DOI":"10.1007\/s12124-007-9019-6","article-title":"Rethinking Collaborative Learning Through Participation in an Interdisciplinary Research Project: Tensions and Negotiations as Key Points in Knowledge Production","volume":"41","author":"Tartas","year":"2007","journal-title":"Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science"},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Torrato, Janette B., Aguja, Socorro E., and Prudente, Maricar S. (2023). Educators\u2019 Digital Literacy Competence in a Hybrid Learning Environment, ACM.","DOI":"10.1145\/3588243.3588250"},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"45","DOI":"10.1300\/J067v14n01_04","article-title":"A Collaborative-Comparative Approach to Learning Qualitative Data Analysis","volume":"14","author":"Uehara","year":"1996","journal-title":"Journal of Teaching in Social Work"},{"key":"ref_59","first-page":"11","article-title":"Qualitative Research in the Time of a Disaster Like COVID-19","volume":"48","author":"Costa","year":"2020","journal-title":"Revista Lusofona de Educacao"},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"489","DOI":"10.1038\/445489a","article-title":"A Twenty-First Century Science","volume":"445","author":"Watts","year":"2007","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"385","DOI":"10.1080\/13645579.2015.1023964","article-title":"Researcher Reflexivity: Exploring the Impacts of CAQDAS Use","volume":"19","author":"Woods","year":"2016","journal-title":"International Journal of Social Research Methodology"},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.17705\/1CAIS.03102","article-title":"A Descriptive Literature Review and Classification of Cloud Computing Research","volume":"31","author":"Yang","year":"2012","journal-title":"CAIS"}],"container-title":["Social Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0760\/12\/10\/570\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T21:05:37Z","timestamp":1760130337000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-0760\/12\/10\/570"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,12]]},"references-count":62,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,10]]}},"alternative-id":["socsci12100570"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/socsci12100570","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-0760"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-0760","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,10,12]]}}}