Group query (NVivo 15 Windows)

Use group queries to find items that are associated in a particular way with other items in your project. The items could be associated by coding, attribute value, relationships, see-also links or maps. For example, you might have a hunch that Interview with Franz and Interview with Vikram covered very different issues and therefore have been coded differently. You could explore that hunch with a group query. When you run the query, the results are displayed in Detail View with the codes grouped under Interview with Franz and Interview with Vikram.

You can look for various types of associations with a group query.

You cannot use the Query Wizard to run a group query—these queries must be set up outside the Wizard.

Limit the size of group query results

You can limit the size of the group query results by selecting which items are included in the scope and range, or even who has performed the coding.

• Scope refers to the items that you want to look in—for example, Interview with Franz and Interview with Vikram.
• Range refers to the items that you want to find if they are associated with the scope items. This could be general—for example all codes, or more specific—for example, solar power, wind power, hydro power and biofuels.
  The available options for scope and range vary depending on the type of association you are looking for. For example, if you are looking for any maps that include the code renewable energy, the scope is the code 'renewable energy' and the range is 'All Models'.
• Coded By allows you to select specific users who have performed the coding. This is only available when you look for Items Coding or Items Coded At.

The results of a group query are displayed in Detail View. The range items are grouped together under the scope items.

Understand the results of a group query

When you run a group query the results are displayed in Detail View. The Result tab is displayed by default:

1Scope Items  contain the items you want to find the associations with—for example, Interview with Franz and Interview with Vikram.

2Range Items  contain the items you want to view at the second level if they have associations with the scope items. This could be all codes in your project, or just a selected few—for example, solar power, wind power, hydro power and biofuels. The range items are grouped together under the scope items.

3Finds  refers to the number of range items that are associated with each scope item—for example, How many of the range codes code Interview with Franz?

4 Click the Connection Map tab (on the right of Detail View) to display a connection map that shows any associations between scope items and range items.

1Scope Items  contain the items you defined in the group query—for example, the files Interview with Franz and Interview with Vikram.

2Range Items  contain the range items that have associations with any of the scope items. This could be all codes in your project, or just a selected few—for example, solar power, wind power, hydro power and biofuels.

3Finds  Each line represents an association found between a scope item and a range item.

Create a group query

1. On the Explore tab, in the Query group, click Group.

2. In the Look For box, select one of the following options:

   Look For	Description
   Items Coding or Items Coded At	Find codes that code specific files—for example, which codes code Interview with Franz and Interview with Vikram? Alternatively, you can find files coded to specific codes—for example, which interviews have been coded to water conservation or water treatment?
   Items by Attribute Value	Find files or cases with specific attribute values. This can help you to check that you have consulted a variety of files—for example, have I relied too heavily on journal articles published in a particular country?   Group queries can also be used to find out which participants belong to a certain demographic group—for example, Who are the participants from Riverside and Mountain View?
   Relationships	Find files or codes that are associated by a relationship. For example, which files or codes are associated by a relationship with water quality? Under Relationship Criteria select: Direction to specify that you want to find only relationships with a specific direction. Types to specify that you want to find only relationships of a specific type and  click OK.
   See-Also Links	Find project items that are associated by 'see-also' links.
   Map Items or Maps	Find the maps that contain selected items—for example, which maps contain the codes homeowners, fishermen or farmers?   You can also use a group query to view a list of the items that are part of selected maps.

3. (Optional) Define the Scope, Range or Coded By. Use the Select button to choose specific project items.
4. Click Run.

NOTE  To save a group query, click Add to Project at the top of the dialog box, and enter the name and description (optional) in the General tab.