My Dedoose Review-The REMIX

Ok.  So now I am on the other side of my project.  I turned in my first draft and am anxiously awaiting feedback.  I wrote my first review for Dedoose a little out of frustration, but after using Dedoose for the whole 30 days, I must say I recommend it to anyone who is doing qualitative research.  I know I fussed about the data loss thing, but after those first few days last year, I have not experienced anything like that again and all my data was there, present and accounted for.

Now that I am in my right mind, and have WoooooSaaaaaed from research....here's my updated review.

            EASY TO USE- especially for beginners.  If you don't have time to learn a new software, it doesn't take a whole lot of brain power to figure out the interface.  Also, there are lots of tutorials to help you.  Within minutes, you can get down to business.

             WEB-BASED- so technically you have your research with you anywhere there is computer and internet.  That could propose a problem if you are somewhere without internet.  (I had several international flights with no wifi.)  But they have great export features so that you can work with the data offline, too.

              FREE TRIAL- You get to try the service out for free for 30 days.  Originally I thought the free trial was a ploy to get you knee-deep in research and you would be beholden to them forever because they would have your data.  But you can export it out (like I did on day 29).  Truthfully, with all of the data analysis tools and charts, it exported out way better than I put it in.  It went in as plain docs but I exported it out in docs and charts and graphs and spreadsheets....all for free-can't beat that.

               PAY MONTH to MONTH- I also like that you can pay by the month, so it is still $156 a year if you are using it 12 months, but if you don't need it for a couple months while waiting for approvals or committee meetings or a host of other things that prolong research, technically you don't have to pay and all your research will still be there.  (Mine is still there 3 months removed).

               GREAT FOR A TEAM- If you are working with a team, I really think this is the way to go because you all have access to the data (and who did what-in case there are some...."discrepancies."  Then, you know who was responsible.)  It's probably cheaper that buying each person software, especially if you have different people working on it short term (and/or they are not all students).  Furthermore, they added a new Training section where you can set up "tests" to evaluate how the well people on the team apply codes and what weights they give them.  This is invaluable to getting everybody on the same page.
            
               WORKS ON A MAC-  The options for qualitative analysis software on a mac are a bit scarce.  With it being web-based, you can use it on your mac or pc, it's still there in same format.  For imports, it runs best with the new Office software (2007 or newer; docx, xlsx).  It only uploads docx, so if you are using an older Microsoft Office for Mac (2003), you may have some problems uploading your data into the software, but you can export it in a variety of formats (xls, xlsx, doc, txt).
        
               PRICEWISE, for non-students, this is a great deal.  For students, it could be pricer than some of the other software out there (MAXQDA and Atlas Ti runs about $99 for students).  Still I chose Dedoose because I didn't have time to learn those programs and make my deadlines and I plan to go further in my research way pass the student stage and I love that all my data will be there (as long as you are active at least 1 month every 2 years.)  And when I am Dr. instead of Student, the price will be a steal.

I recommend Dedoose to anyone who is doing research, especially qualitative.  It really helped me when I was neck-deep in data and toe-deep in time.  I probably got on their nerves because I was frantic those first few days but tech support was great.  Many of the bugs I reported were "user error"...but they were gracious and helped me through it nonetheless.  This is my software (service) of choice.

Dedoose Review

So I was on this qualitative study forum trying to do some research on qualitative analysis software.  I was reviewing the various kinds and someone suggested Dedoose.  I went on the website and I watched a couple of videos and tutorials.  I was sold!  It looked like it would help organize and sort some of my data and help me in the last push of this research project.  There was the 30-day free trial, so I would at least try it out...so after spending 2 days on it (but logging in about 15 hrs on it) heres my review:

PROS:  Easy to use, pretty self explanatory, and lots of videos that help you learn how to use it fairly quickly.  Simple interface.  Web-based so you can be working anywhere there is a computer and internet. Great for coding and memos and works with different methodologies and also allows you to use quantitative data also.  I am pretty new to qualitative analysis software so this really made it easy for me.

CONS:  WEB-BASED That could be problematic if you are not near a place with internet...like a couple of international flights I'll be on, or any other number of places.

LOTS OF BUGS.  Granted its a new site (just about a month old), but my data keeps disappearing.  Customer support is polite and nice and warned me not to be overly concerned about loss data, it's not loss, it's just not presenting.  That's good to know, except I need not only on their server, BUT ALSO on my screen.  When their site is down or not functioning properly...my study and my deadlines don't function that properly.  I think it will be great, but there are too many bugs for me to handle when time is off the essence.  I have spent a lot of time and tears today waiting for my data to be recovered or redirected.

Also, they advertise INEXPENSIVE, though I don't find it so.  It is cheaper than other software packages for institutions, but not for a student.  A student can get MAXQDA or Atlas ti for $99 for 12 months; as opposed to $156 for Dedoose.  

Maybe down the line I may come back to it, I think it will be a good product eventually but for me on a time crunch, I need something that works 24 hrs a day, 6 days a week...that's when I'm working.

My Favorite Room

My favorite room is a fluid title that floats from room to room.  Depending on my mood, it could the bathroom, the bedroom, the family room, or depending who's in there, the kitchen.  But my favorite room, by far, hands down, as of late,  is my prayer room.  That is where I find God.  

Now don't get it twisted, God is in my study and bedroom, in the kitchen and the car.  He is everywhere, but there is something special about my prayer room.  He meets me there.  It's not a full room, per se, it just a walk in closet.  That's my garden where He walks with me and talks with me.  And for the most part, I can worship there without waking up the rest of the house (some restrictions apply).

It's a sanctuary for everyone.  I have often seen my kids go in there, "just 'cause I need to pray."  They love to see the new people who constantly appear on the wall and they pray for them.  (They are especially partial to the kids.)  It warms my heart to see them sneak in there and hear their sincere prayers.

The room has a desk, a few books and bible, an oversized pillow, smell-goods, pictures of family and friends, logos of ministries, verses, promises and confessions.  It also has chalk board stickers that can be written on…and erased… (Touch three people and say Thank God that Grace can Erase!)  

It's a work in progress but I thought I would share, because I would love for EVERY home to have a family altar.  If you don't have a room, use a closet.  If you don't have a closet, find a wall.  If you don't have a wall, get a posterboard.  If you don't have that, fine…just get on your knees.

Ask of Me, and I will give You 

The nations for Your inheritance, 

And the ends of the earth for Your possession.  Psalm 2:8

My Fast from the Internet

Ok, I am supposed to be working.  I am supposed to be transcribing however I can't keep off the internet.  I said I was going to fast from the internet (you know…not go on the internet) for one WHOLE hour and I couldn't do it.  I started over and I am doing good now (3 minutes into the fast), but somehow I feel like I am cheating, because I am writing a blog to post as soon as this self-imposed ban is lifted.  

What in the world?!?!?  I am trying to figure out if the internet is so powerful it is pulling me, or is the transcription so powerful it is repelling me.  Either way, it's left me feeling weak here so I am going to conquer it all the transcription and this world wide web of time sapping sites, tweets and blogs.  I am breaking free….

WWHHHOOOOAAAARRRRRRRRR

…hear me roar.  

I felt that one.  I am this is about to be a very liberating 52 mins.  I can feel it.

(…and counting)

POSTSCRIPT:  I did it, I went like an hour and a half (not counting the one time I HAD to break it to google something, but I HAD TOO.  And guess what I learned...I didn't miss a thing.  Not ONE THING.  I'm going to do this fasting thing more often.  I am so much more productive that way.