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NVivo

This guide provides information for using NVivo.

Video: Using Colors to Sort and Group Similar/ Associated Codes

Process Aid: Using Colors to Sort and Group Similar/ Associated Codes

Assigning Colors to Sort Similar/Associated Codes
  • Right-click on the chosen code in the code list. 
  • Click on Color in the right-click menu. 
  • Select a color from the options that appear.

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with annotations explaining how to assign a color to a code. The instructions indicate to right-click on the chosen code, which opens a context menu. From this menu, the Color option is selected, displaying a list of available color choices such as Red, Navy, Green, Blue, Pink, Yellow, Brown, and more. The annotation points to the step to click on the color of choice to apply it.

  • Assign the same color to codes that are similar to the chosen code.

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with an example of unsorted codes that share the same color. Two codes are highlighted with red boxes to emphasize that they both have the same red color assigned in the color column on the far right. The label at the bottom explains this view as a “view of unsorted codes with the same color in the code list.” This demonstrates how assigning colors can visually link related codes, even if they are not grouped together in the list.

Sorting Codes of the Same Color
  • Click on the palette icon at the top-right end of the banner on top of the code list. This will list the codes with the same color together. 

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with annotations explaining how to sort codes by color. The highlighted palette icon in the "Color" column header is indicated as the tool for sorting. Once applied, the codes in the list are grouped together according to their assigned colors. The example highlights a block of codes all marked with the same red color, now shown consecutively in the list. The annotation notes this as a view of codes in the code list sorted by colors, visually clustering related items for easier analysis

Modifying or Removing Colors from Codes (if needed)
  • Right-click on the chosen code.
  • Select Color from the right-click menu. 
  • Select None to remove color. Or select any other color of your choice to modify. 

NVivo window showing the codes list with a right-click menu open. The Color option is expanded, displaying various color choices, including None, Red, Blue, Green, and others.

 

Process Aid: Video: Create a Category/Sub-theme

Using the Create Code Function to Create Categories/Sub-themes

  • Click on the Create tab in the action panel at the top.

  • Select Code. 

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with annotations explaining how to create a category or sub-theme. The instructions highlight selecting Create → Code from the toolbar, which opens the New Code dialog box. Inside this box, the name and description of the category/sub-theme are entered. A drop-down arrow for selecting a color is visible, allowing the user to assign a visual identifier to the category or sub-theme. Finally, the OK button at the bottom is indicated as the step to save the new entry.

  • Enter the name and description describing the rationale behind grouping the codes under a category/sub-theme.
  • Assign the same color as the codes associated with a category/sub-theme. 
  • Click OK to confirm. 

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with an annotation pointing out the view of a newly created category/sub-theme. In the coding workspace, a newly added item labeled “Category – Changed, but not for good” is highlighted in the list of codes. The label at the bottom clarifies this as the view of the newly created category/sub-theme.

 

Classifying Codes to a Category/Sub-theme
  • Highlight the associated codes sorted by colors (as indicated in the steps under sorting codes with the same color). 
  • Highlight the top-most code in the list, then press Shift and down Arrow on the keyboard to highlight multiple codes together. 
  • Right-click on the highlighted codes. 
  • Select Cut from the right-click menu.The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with annotations explaining how to align codes under a newly created category or sub-theme. Several codes are highlighted in blue to indicate selection. The instruction points out that you should right-click on the codes aligned with the category/sub-theme, opening a context menu. The Cut option is highlighted in the menu, showing the step to remove these selected codes temporarily so they can be pasted under the intended category/sub-theme. A red annotation bracket emphasizes the group of highlighted codes being prepared for alignment under the category.
Assigning Codes to the Category/Sub-theme

  • Right-click on the category/sub-theme. 

  • Select Paste from the right-click menu. 

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with annotations explaining how to paste codes into a chosen category or sub-theme. The highlighted example demonstrates right-clicking on a category, which opens a context menu. From the menu, the Paste option is emphasized, allowing previously cut codes to be placed under this category.

  • Click on the + sign on the left of the category/sub-theme to view the codes in that cluster. 

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with an annotation highlighting the “+” sign next to a category/sub-theme. The “+” sign to its left indicates that it contains codes nested within it, but they are currently collapsed.

 

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with annotations illustrating how codes appear once they are organized under a category/s

Aggregating Files and References from the Codes in a Category/Sub-theme
  • Right click on the chosen category/sub-theme. 
  • Click on Aggregate Coding from Children in the right-click menu.

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with annotations explaining how to enable aggregate coding from children. The example highlights a category with multiple codes organized beneath it. The instructions indicate to right-click on the chosen category/sub-theme, which opens a context menu. From this menu, the option “Aggregate Coding from Children” is indicated for selection.

  • Aggregating coding from children calculates the total number of files and references linked to the codes within a category/sub-theme.

 

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with annotations demonstrating how aggregate coding works when enabled. The highlighted parent category now displays cumulative totals of Files (4) and References (15). The annotation at the top emphasizes this functionality: “Aggregate files and references from the codes under the category/sub-theme.

 

Video: Grouping Categories/Sub-themes to Create Themes

Process Aid: Grouping Categories/Sub-themes to Create Themes

Creating a Theme

  • Click on the Create tab in the action panel at the top.

  • Select Code. 

  • Enter the name and description for the theme. 

  • Assign a color for classification purposes (optional). 

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with annotations explaining how to create a theme. The steps highlight selecting Create → Code from the toolbar, entering the name and description of the theme in the "New Code" dialog box, and optionally choosing a color from the drop-down arrow. A highlighted OK button is shown for saving the new code.

Classifying Categories/Sub-themes in Accordance with a Theme (optional)
  • Assign a color to the categories/sub-themes that align with the same theme. 
  • Sort the categories/sub-themes by clicking on the palette icon. (Refer to the section on Using Colors to Sort and Group Similar Codes for the steps). 
Moving Categories/Sub-themes under a Theme
  • Highlight the relevant categories/sub-themes that need to be classified under the same theme. 
  • Right-click on the highlight and select Cut. 

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with annotations explaining how to cut categories or sub-themes. The highlighted instruction indicates to highlight relevant categories or sub-themes and right-click. A context menu appears, and the Cut option is emphasized, showing how to remove the selected categories/sub-themes.

  • Right-click on the appropriate theme and select Paste. 

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface with annotations explaining how to paste categories/sub-themes into a chosen theme. The highlighted step demonstrates right-clicking on the selected theme to open the context menu. From the menu options, the Paste command is shown as the action to select.

The image shows a screenshot of the NVivo software interface displaying a hierarchical view of themes, categories/sub-themes, and codes.