RQDA is an R package for computer assisted qualitative data analysis or CAQDAS. It is installable from, and runs within, the R statistical software, but has a separate window running a graphical user interface (through RGtk2). RQDA's approach allows for tight integration of the constructivist approach of qualitative research with quantitative data analysis which can increase the rigor, transparency and validity of qualitative research.
In the graphical interface it has the following functions:
Import documents from plain text
Support non-English documents, Simplified Chinese Character is well-tested under Windows
Support character-level coding
Memos for documents, codes, coding, project, files etc.
Retrieve coding, and easily gets back to the original file. Conditional retrieval is supported as well.
Single-file (*.rqda) format, which is basically the SQLite database
Categorize codes (tree-like categories are avoided)
Categorize files
Search files by keywords and can highlight keyword in the open file
Show attributes of files, which is useful for content analysis
Categorise cases and related attributes of cases (to bridge qualitative and quantitative research)
Search information about selected cases from the web
Rename files, codes, code categories, cases etc.
Write and organize fieldwork journals
Through use of R functions, it can:
Import a batch of files
Calculate the relation between two codings, given the coding indexes
Give a summary of coding and inter-code relationship.
Export file/case attributes and show subset of files/cases.
Allow for more flexible conditional retrieval.
Boolean operations of and, or and not.
