Aquad

Aquad (an abbreviation of Analysis of Qualitative Data) is open source computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software (CAQDAS). It supports analysis of text, audio, video, and graphical data.¹²

Aquad provides functions for content analysis, including:

• Text search: looking for segments in texts
• Classifying: labeling text, audio, image, and videosdata
• Writing memos (annotation): inserting annotations linked to parts or whole texts, audios, photos, or videos
• Word analysis: counting words according to criteria
• Retrieval by file name, code, keyword, or content: Retrieval of segments according to criteria
• Tabular analysis: constructing tables combining criteria and arranging data in rows and columns
• Construction of linkage hypotheses: looking for relationships across data
• Comparison of cases/files: contrasting coding across files
• Sequential analysis: objective hermeneutics
• Comparison of cases by Boolean analysis: critical features and identification of "types" as introduced by Charles Ragin.
• Export data: quantitative software as R, SPSS, and PSPP for statistical analysis.

Data can be directly analyzed on the screen (one-step) or outside (two-steps). One-step allows on-screen coding with digitized data. Two-steps allows the user to enter codes on the screen, keeping the documents on the desk or in other means such as cameras, TVs, etc. For instance, two-steps allows the analysis of recordings, diaries, incunabula, or objects without transcribing, taking photos, or scanning them.³⁴

Aquad allows comparison of cases/files by "logical minimization", by using its own algorithm and the R package qualitative comparative analysis to determine implicants.⁵

The latest available version is Aquad 8, which is available in German, English, and Spanish. Version 7 is also available for download.¹