Framework matrices (NVivo 15 Mac)

Framework matrices help you to condense large volumes of interview material into more manageable quantities and can help you to gain insight and familiarity with your data.

Framework matrices consist of a grid that has rows for cases (for example, people you interviewed) and columns for codes. Each cell in the grid represents the intersection of a case and theme—when you enter text into the cell you can create a summary of the content relevant to that case and theme.

Working with condensed files in the framework matrix can make it easier to:

• See everything about a theme by looking down a column
• See how different themes relate to each other for a particular individual by looking across a row
• Compare the experiences of different individuals by comparing one row to another

In this example, a framework matrix has been used to summarize the responses of 2 different people who were interviewed about Policy, management and Real estate development:

1  Rows—each row represents a case. In this example, the cases are people.

2  Columns—each column represents a code.

3  Associated view—a code that (by default) displays content that is coded to the row (case).

4  Cells—each cell is the intersection between a case and code.

Create a framework matrix

1. On the Create tab, click Framework Matrix.
2. Enter a name for the matrix and optionally enter a description.
3. On the Rows tab, under Rows, click the Select button and then select the cases that will be the rows in your matrix.
4. (Optional) Under Attributes by which to sort cases, click the Select button and then select the attributes to show in the row headers in the matrix.
5. On the Columns tab, click the Select button, and then select the thematic codes that will be columns in your matrix.

Learn more about the Framework method

The Framework method was developed by the National Centre for Social Research (NatCen). To find out more about this methodology, refer to the Framework page on NatCen's website.

If you have a project created in NatCen's FrameWork software application, you can convert it into an NVivo project and continue working with it in NVivo.