Software Reverse Engineering (SRE) is the practice of analyzing a software system, either in whole or in part, to extract design and implementation information.
Software Reverse Engineering (SRE) is the practice of analyzing a software system, either in whole or in part, to extract design and implementation information.
Software Reverse Engineering (SRE) is the practice of analyzing a software system, either in whole or in part, to extract design and implementation information.
Despite significant social and economic progress during the past two centuries, economic development – ironically – has put some communities’ livelihoods in peril through globalization. As the 21st century unfolds, sustainable development, the development that meets the current generation’s needs without compromising the interest of future generations, has become both a timely and immensely imperative issue regarding ecological limits. Our understanding of sustainable development in Indigenous communities, however, is particularly under-examined as the local worldviews often collide with the dominant Western way of thinking.
It is important to study sustainable development in Indigenous communities because they are often the most in need of it and most vulnerable to economic exploitation – and the least able to make their sustainable development aspirations heard. In my research, I seek to address the question of how organizations can contribute to sustainable development in Indigenous communities through place-based organizing.
Ethnographic Work in the Peruvian Andes
In 2017, I conducted a three-month ethnographic study on the Tibetan Plateau of a social enterprise called Norlha Textiles, which utilizes yak wool to create high-end textiles, thus offering sustainable livelihood for the members of a Tibetan nomadic village. This experience sharpened my ability to conduct culturally appropriate, community-based, and collaborative research in an Indigenous setting.
During this study, I also came to learn about some European luxury textile companies’ work on alpaca fiber in the Peruvian Andes. I expected that there might be something similar happening in the Andes, where organizations use local resources to develop the economy while contributing to cultural preservation. This discovery became the basis for my current fieldwork project.
The small buildings that are located in the “desert” bordering the volcanoes are where the immigrants live in the city of Arequipa
Data Access Strategy
Following a phase of ‘desk research’, I realized that there is an even bigger alpaca fiber industry in the Peruvian Andes than on the Tibetan Plateau. One of the leading companies I found consistently mentions the connection between their work and Peru’s cultural heritage and ecological well-being in their media communications. They even established an independent organization called Pacomarca (sustainable alpaca network) to support the sustainable use of alpaca fiber. This information strengthened my belief that there is more to be researched in this region.
Through a contact in Peru, I was introduced to a professor at the National Agrarian University in Lima, who is working on alpaca gene refinement. The professor kindly introduced me to the International Association of Alpacas in Arequipa, which mediated my research with organizations working on alpaca fibers in the Andes, and that is how I came to be where I am today.
MAXQDA supports various methodological frameworks, including grounded theory, by helping you collect, organize, analyze, visualize, and publish your data. This article will walk you through tools that will help you get started with your MAXQDA-supported grounded theory analysis quickly and easily.
What is Grounded Theory?
The central principle of grounded theory is that the researcher’s theories about a topic are constructed based on their data. In other words, by collecting and analyzing qualitative data, the researcher can construct a new theory that is “grounded” in that data. Grounded theory, therefore, begins with the collection of data based on a question rather than the aim to test a hypothesis.
The principles of grounded theory were articulated in 1967 by sociologists Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss in their book The Discovery of Grounded Theory. The idea of starting with the data in order to create the theory contradicted previous methodological traditions, which mostly suggested that researchers should verify already-formulated theory during data collection.
“Grounded theory is the discovery of theory from data systematically obtained from social research” (Glaser & Strauss, 2009).
Grounded theory remains one of the most popular qualitative methodological frameworks used by researchers today. This may be because grounded theory methodology and its application “foster seeing your data in fresh ways and exploring your ideas about the data through early analytic writing” (Charmaz, 2006). There are also many iterations of the grounded theory process, especially when it comes to coding. This article will, therefore, serve as a practical guide to analyzing data with MAXQDA rather than a methodological assessment of grounded theory itself.
Grounded Theory Analysis with MAXQDA
In grounded theory-based analysis, the researcher generally analyzes the data as follows: finding repeating themes by thoroughly reviewing the data; coding the emergent themes with keywords and phrases; grouping the codes into concepts hierarchically; and then categorizing the concepts through relationship identification. Finally, the categories created through this process, as well as the links found between them, are used as the basis for the development of a new theory.
The main steps in using MAXQDA to analyze qualitative data based on the grounded theory methodology are what we call the‘4 Cs’:
coding the data,
customizing the Code System,
category building with Creative Coding, and
constructing theories with MAXMaps.
These steps facilitate an analysis process that gives the researcher the freedom to construct new theories instead of simply collecting data to test how well an established theory applies to the social phenomena they are studying. However, the freedom that grounded theory gives to the researcher may also be one of its biggest challenges when it is put into practice.
With no rigid structure or prescribed rules, researchers must work entirely on their own, which often leads to uncertainty about how to get the analysis process started. Grounded theory research, especially when conducted with the constant comparative method of data analysis, is “a labor-intensive task that requires the researcher to invest time in the processes of analysis and data collection” (Kolb, 2012).
As shown above, the process is much clearer when you use software. With MAXQDA, you can search for data segments as you code the data and have analytical ideas, allowing you to develop the theory in real-time! If you don’t already have a MAXQDA license, download the 14-day free trial to get started:
The biggest MAXQDA training and networking event of the year: The MAXQDA International Conference (MQIC) is the perfect opportunity to meet both the MAXQDA development team and other researchers from all over the world who work with and teach MAXQDA. Take workshops, engage in discussions at the Best Practice Roundtables, present a poster about your research (with the potential to win cash prizes), and explore Germany’s capital in style!
Learn
Choose from more than 40 workshops, 5 Best Practice Roundtables, and 20 poster presentations that will be held at the MQIC 2019. Mix and match full-day, half-day, and Spotlight Session workshops to customize your learning experience. The MQIC offers three different workshop formats (both in German and English) at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels so that everyone can find a learning opportunity suited to their needs.
Workshops
Just starting out with computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software? Check out these starter workshops that combine theory and practice to get you ready to start analyzing your data right away:
Already familiar with the MAXQDA basics? Check out the MAXQDA Master Class full-day workshop! Want to focus on more specific theories, such as Qualitative Text Analysis or literature analysis? Or maybe you would like to see concrete research examples and learn strategies for mixed methods approaches or on how to analyze fieldwork data with MAXQDA? Browse through the full MQIC workshop schedule and choose the learning experience that’s right for you.
Register today to secure your spot. All workshop participation slots are assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis and once the workshop is fully booked, a waiting list will be opened.
Tip: Register by November 30th and secure a 20% Early Bird discount on your conference and workshop registration fees!
This was the biggest and most competitive MAXQDA Photo Contest yet! More than double the number of photographs picturing researchers in the field, interview participants, teamwork, and workspaces were submitted than in 2017 and the competition was fiercer than ever.
Also new this year was the license raffle. Every photographer who submitted an image was entered into the raffle to win a 1-year MAXQDA 2018 Analytics Pro Single-User license, and we are happy to announce that the raffle winner is Mohammed Djalil Baaziz. Congratulations Mohammed Djalil and all the best on your research journey with MAXQDA!
Without further ado, the top 5 #PictureYourResearch entries of the 3rdannual MAXQDA Photo Contest are:
“Sharing Most Significant Change Results with Community Members” by Christina Bowles
A OneVillage Partners staff member is sharing their research with the community to garner the impact of their programs and highlight areas of improvement.
Congratulations Christina! Your depiction of research methods in action is what this contest is all about and we loved hearing about how sharing results is one way that the organization holds themselves accountable to program participants, who are the true experts in community development. We love both the photograph and description of this snapshot into your research process with the community. We hope to see more of your projects with the OneVillage Partners in the future!
“Sustainable Coffee is an Issue of Social Justice” by Yair Merlín-Uribe
Research on the coffee agriculture of Chiapas, Mexico in the context of sustainability of life.
Congratulations Yair! Your photograph is not only colorful and beautiful but we also found it to be a great insight into the life of your research partner, Odilio. We find your research into the economic supply chain of coffee to be an important topic becuase before your submission, many of us did not know that this farmer will only receive $.05 US cents for each cup of coffee made from his crop sold, even though it will retail for $3.50 USD. We are glad to help you raise awareness about this topic as well as display your beautiful art!
Research Question: Can photography class be a viable way to nurture habits of mind and improve problem-solving in Japanese medical students?
Congratulations Marcellus! This photo, which was taken during a lesson on motion blur, shutter speed, and the need for persistence in photography, is so creative and dynamic. It is amazing to see so many people coming together to create one unified piece of art that seems to be moving before your eyes. We are also captivated by the originality of your mixed methods approach using Experiential Learning Theory and Habits of the Mind theoretical frameworks as well as your research’s blending between the medical education and photography fields. We hope that MAXQDA will continue to help you along your extremely creative research journey!
Research on developing a 3D printer that uses clay as a reusable printing material instead of expensive and one-time usable PLA.
Congratulations Faisol! Your clever composition and naming of this piece really make it stand out. When you look at your photograph, you can’t help but smile. We not only love the play on words, but we also think that you did a great job capturing a moment in the life of student about to graduate from the Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand. It continues to be great to see how MAXQDA can be applied in so many diverse fields. Thank you for sharing your picture with us and we can’t wait to see more from you as your photography talents continue to develop!
“Crossing the River” by Glory Dee Romo
The picture was taken in Barangay Tudela, Trento, Agusan del Sur, Philippines while waiting to cross the river for a meeting with the soybean farmers.
Congratulations Glory Dee! At first glance, your photograph feels both awe-inspiring and quite eery at the same time. We think that everyone who sees this image has to look twice and the story behind this image is quite amazing, so we will let you description speak for itself: “The instruction given prior to the arrival at the area was to ride on a baroto, a small dugout boat. Upon the reaching the place, however, the locals informed us that it would be dangerous to cross the river through a boat ride on a moderate rain and wind…While the team was waiting, we saw this man walking casually (along one of the edges of the constructed dam in the river) towards the other side to fetch his carabao. This picture highlights the huge challenge faced by the soybean farmers in transporting their farm inputs to the area and soybean produce from the area to the market”.
The talented shutterbugs behind these five winning photographs will soon receive a professional print of their photo (large scale canvas or acrylic print) to help them display their art and gain exposure for their research projects.
If your picture is displayed above and you have not received an e-mail notifying you of your selection, please check your inbox or write to us at communications@maxqda.com!
Honorable Mentions
“Culture Pal Pal” by Nuwair ALHajari
Taken in Georgia, this image shows a research site where fieldwork is being done to explore the culture of the people that departed and left only these relics.
“Sliding into the Ocean” by Rebecca Borges
A boat decorated by one of the researcher’s interview partners in Brazil who was very proud of his craft and artwork on a small boat. Borges says that his care for, and dependence on this boat inspired her to acknowledge the importance of the ocean and its conservation. Learn more about Rebecca Borges’ projects.
“Faith of the Elderly Woman” by Joana Butėnaitė
Research that focuses on psychological processes in the context of faith of elderly people – researcher and interview participant in Belarus.
“Monks Changing a Lightbulb” by Shirah Foy
Research focusing on how aspects of culture contribute to the identities we develop and lead from–as entrepreneurs, organizers, etc. This image was taken in 2012 at a 550-year-old Tibetan Buddhist monastery called Pema Chholing–elevation 2800m–a seven-day walk from Mount Everest. Learn more in Shirah Foy’s blog.
“Best Respondents” by Elnura Kazakbaeva
This photo is shot during the survey data collection for research on “Information consumption habits of local people”. It took place in village Kyzylsenir in the southern Jalal-Abad region in Kyrgyzstan.
“Every Child is a World” by Tugba Kontas Azakli
This photo was taken while carrying out the ethnographic field work of the project “Every Child is a World”, conducted in order to prevent child labor in seasonal agriculture. Read more about this project.
“Pippi Langstrumpf” (English: Pippi Longstocking) by Heike Rosenberger
The photo was taken during the project „Theater als Ressource der Pädagogik bei Menschen mit Lernbeeinträchtigungen“ (English: “Theatre as a resource of education for people with learning disabilities”) at the University of Erfurt, Germany.
