The Digital Revolution in Qualitative Research: Working with Digital Audio Data through Atlas. Ti

Modern versions of Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS)are enabling the analysis of audio sound files instead of relying solely ontext-based analysis. Along with other developments in computer technologies suchas the proliferation of digital recording devices and the potential for usingstreamed media in online academic publication, this innovation is increasing thepossibilities of systematically using media-rich, naturalistic data in place oftranscribed ‘de-naturalised’ forms. This paper reports on a project assessingonline learning materials that used Atlas.ti software to analyse sound files,and it describes the problems faced in gathering, analysing and using this datafor report writing. It concludes that there are still serious barriers to thefull and effective integration of audio data into qualitative research: theabsence of ‘industry standard’ recording technology, the underdevelopment ofaudio interfaces in Atlas.ti (as a key CAQDAS package), and the conventionalapproach to data use in many online publication formats all place seriousrestrictions on the integrated use of this data. Nonetheless, it is argued herethat there are clear benefits in pushing for resolutions to these problems asthe use of this naturalistic data through digital formats may help qualitativeresearchers to overcome some long-standing methodological issues: in particular,the ability to overcome the reliance on data transcription rather than ‘natural’data, and the possibility of implementing research reports that facilitate amore transparent use of ‘reusable’ data, are both real possibilities when usingthese digital technologies, which could substantially change the shape ofqualitative research practice.