Matrix coding query (NVivo 14 Mac)

Matrix coding queries enable you to see coding intersections between two lists of items.

You can use matrix coding queries to ask a wide range of questions about patterns in your coded data and gain access to the content that shows those patterns.

For example—depending on how you coded your data, you could compare Positive and Negative attitudes towards different themes:

Or compare what different cases have said about an issue:

You could also explore how terms are used in different contexts. For example, what do people say about Habitat in relation to the Economy?

Refer to Queries & visualizations (NVivo 14 Mac) for more ideas about how you can use matrix coding queries to explore your data.

The resulting coding matrix can be saved in your project as a query result or with your codes in the Coding Matrices folder.

When you are working with a coding matrix, you can:

• Open a code from a matrix cell to see all the content coded to the cell (at both the row and column codes)—double-click on a cell to open the code.
• Apply shading to cells to make it easier to see patterns in the matrix
• Change the information displayed in the matrix cells—for example number of files coded or number of codes coded

Create a matrix coding query

1. On the Explore tab click Matrix Coding Query.
   
2. Choose where you want to search for coding:
   • Files and Externals—search for content in all the files in your project, including externals and memos
   • Selected Items—restrict your search to selected items (for example, a set containing interview transcripts)
   • Items in Selected Folders—restrict your search to content in selected folders (for example, a folder of interview transcripts)
3. Define the rows of the matrix—under Rows, click the Add button, then choose one of the following:
   • Select Items then select the files or codes you want to display in rows, and then click Select.
   • Select Attribute Values and then select the attribute values you want to display in rows, and then click Select Attribute Values.
4. Define the columns of the matrix—under Columns, click the Add button, then choose one of the following:
   • Select Items then select the files or codes you want to display in columns, and then click Select.
   • Select Attribute Values and then select the attribute values you want to display in columns, and then click Select Attribute Values.
5. Click the Run Query button at the top of Detail View.

TIP  Click the Expand icon at the top of the Detail View to make more room for working with your data. Customize the workspace (NVivo 14 Mac)

When the query has finished running, the results are displayed as a temporary preview in Detail View.

TIP  You can expand the result column widths or use the scroll bars. To re-size all the result columns at once, hold down the Option key while adjusting the column width.

Save the preview results as a coding matrix

You can save the preview results as a coding matrix in your project—either in the Results folder or Coding Matrices folder. This is useful when you want to keep a record of the coding in your project at a particular point in time.

1. Click the Save Results button at the top of the Detail View.
2. Enter a name and description for the coding matrix.
3. Click Save Results.