Innovative Visual Methods with Dedoose
As a new academic year begins, we want to spotlight Dedoose’s features and functions that enable innovative uses of visual methods—with a focus on how to code video files. Visual methods are becoming increasingly popular in qualitative and mixed methods research, particularly as the value and utility of these methods for exploring and explaining social phenomena become more established.
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From photo-elicitation, photo-voice, analyzing video or images, or discourse analysis—there are numerous ways to engage visual media in research to explore complex questions and topics concerning social scientists!
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Data Preparation: The Part No One Talks About
Before we dive into coding, it is best to mention some data preparation tips that will help ease the process of uploading video files.
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The best file format for upload is an mp4 file. For detailed instructions on how to convert a file to mp4 format, check out the instructions here.
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Helpful Tip: if you have large video files (e.g., longer than 90 minutes) it is best to splice them in half to decrease processing time/ease the upload process, but this is not required.
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Coding (a.k.a. “The Fun Part”)
After uploading your data/media, select the media file you want to analyze. You can begin coding by selecting the portion of the video you want to attach a code, by dragging the blue brackets to the desired time, or simply by letting the video play to the desired time.
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The purple bar tracks where you are in the video, while the blue brackets indicate what portion of the video you want to attach a code. This is the adjustable function where you are “creating an excerpt” of the selection of video.
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Simply adjust the parameters of the blue brackets to the desired length and select the “excerpt” icon in the lower right corner. You now have a specific selection of the video to attach codes, attach a memo, or leave the excerpt to be reviewed and coded later!
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Transcript View and Media View
One of the most useful features is the option to attach and synchronize a transcript to your video file. To enter the transcript workplace, select the “transcript view” icon.
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Once in transcript view, you can type, paste, or import the transcript of your media file and synchronize the text to your coded excerpts. For detailed instructions on how to perform these actions, see our walk through in the User Guide.
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Select the “media view” icon to return to exit transcript view and return to full-screen video.
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Quick Tips
Lastly, there are a few quick tips to make coding and analyzing video data more efficient and meaningful.
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Shortcut Keys
Utilize the shortcut keys to complete the most common video excerpting/coding functions:
- Ctrl + P to toggle play/pause
- Ctrl + Q to create an excerpt
- Ctrl + + or Ctrl + – to move back and forward in the media player
- Ctrl + Alt + +/- to move back and forward in larger increments
- Ctrl + Left or right arrow to move to the previous or next excerpt
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The Memo Function
The memo function is a perfect tool to attach analytical or reflexive notes while you code excerpts. These will be especially helpful when viewing excerpts later, tracking your thinking and methodological choices, and/or developing codes.
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Screenshots and Video Analysis
If there is a particular moment of interest in the video, you can screenshot the video and upload the screenshots as image files. The images can be linked to the video and analyzed in more depth or included as visuals in articles and presentations.
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For more information…
Want to know how Dedoose was used to enhance the analysis in the example project above (a media content analysis of sports media coverage)? Check out this link!
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For a comprehensive and detailed overview on how Dedoose can help you manage and analyze your qualitative or mixed methods data, purchase Qualitative and Mixed Methods Data Analysis Using Dedoose: A Practical Approach for Research Across the Social Sciences.
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BONUS: You’ll receive two free months of Dedoose with your purchase of the book!
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Suggested Citation:
Salmona, M., Lieber, E. and Kaczynski, D. (2020). Qualitative and Mixed Methods Data Analysis using Dedoose: A Practical Approach for Research across the Social Sciences. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
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Happy Dedoosing!
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