KWALON Conference: Is Qualitative Data Analysis Software really comparable?

April 22-23, 2010
University for Humanistics, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Conference
In this 2-day conference we want to explore the use of analysis software in a more methodological sense. The main theme of the conference is the intertwinement of qualitative data analysis, the use of software and the person analyzing. This conference seeks to open up discussion on these issues, paying particular attention to researcher's evalutation of qualitative software in terms of how it facilitated, or hindered, analysis.

To that end, we have invited developers of Qualitative Data Analysis Software to analyze a dataset about the economic crisis we composed for this purpose, consisting of different datatypes. We've presented them with a research question and asked them to prepare a presentation for the Conference. In their presentation they will reflect analytically and methodologically on their use of the software and relate this to personal and theoretical frameworks. The developers of Atlas.ti, Cassandre, CAT-QDAP, Digital Replay System, MaxQDA, NVivo, QUALRUS and Transana were willing to take up the challenge and will present their reflections at the plenary sessions in the morning.

Next to the experimental analysis by developers, users of different qualitative data analysis software pacakages will present their reflections on the use of software in their own project in the afternoon sessions. The Call for Papers can be obtained here. The final admission date is November 15, 2009.

On thursday evening there will be a Conference Dinner with lots of opportunity to meet colleagues and make new friends. The cost for this 4-course dinner at a city castle in the centre of Utrecht will be 55 Euro, including drinks.

Conference fee
The Conference fee is 225 Euro. Spaces are limited, so we advise you to book yours timely! The registration form, which will secure you a place in the conference can be completed here.

Conference program
The final program for the Conference will be available by March, 1, 2010.

KWALON
KWALON is a Dutch Network of Qualitative Researchers, mostly affiliated to universities. Our main goal is to further the use and quality of Qualitative Research, and to this end we publish a Journal on qualitative methodology (Dutch language, from 1996 onwards, 3 issues a year), participate in and organize national Conferences (this is our first international one!), develop and give courses on qualitative methods, write and publish methodology books, put up a Master thesis price, and seek co-operation with other qualitative researcher networks and institutions. The network is hosted at the University for Humanistics.

Hotels
We have made some price arrangements with different 4-star level hotels in the city of Utrecht.
Sandton Malie Hotel: booking should be done with reference to KWALON
Court Hotel City Centre Utrecht: booking should be done with reference to number 1424 (most rooms available from thursday, april 22nd)
Hotel Mitland Utrecht: booking should be done with reference to number 1404274
Near Utrecht you can book a hotel in Amersfoort (15 minutes by train), Gouda (20 minutes by train) or Amsterdam (30 minutes by train). To use trains in The Netherlands, you will need to buy a so called 'OV-chip', which can be obtained at train stations. In the cities of Rotterdam and Amsterdam you will need these cards to use the local public transportation as well.

For further questions, please contact Jeanine Evers.