Bringing Rigour in Qualitative Social Research: The Use of a CAQDAS

Abstract

Computer Aided Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) is becoming an essential tool for a number of  social scientists. Particularly, CAQDAS allow for a more rapid and rigorous qualitative data analysis. Over the  past few decades, a variety of software that falls under the CAQDAS umbrella has emerged in the market. In  this context, this paper focuses on one of the software - Atlas-ti 5.0- to describe its use as a tool for enhancing  rigour in qualitative social research. The paper describes why and how Atlas-ti 5.0 has been used for data analysis in an exemplar qualitative social research on the ecology of the Mauritian early adolescents’ Internet-mediated dating/romance. It also considers some critics related to the essentials of rigour in qualitative social research. Finally, it outlines the use of Atlas-ti 5.0 for bringing rigour in the exemplar research.

Keywords: Qualitative Social Research, CAQDAS, Atlas-ti, Rigour