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Eastern and Guelph Universities named
winners of inaugural NVivo 8 teaching grants
Eastern University in Pennsylvania, USA; and the University of Guelph in
Ontario, Canada were today awarded inaugural NVivo 8 teaching grants worth
US$10,000 each, allowing their students to benefit from the latest qualitative
data analysis technology this Fall.
Dr. May Aung, Associate Professor at the University of Guelph's College of Management
and Economics; and Dr. Heewon Chang, Professor of Education and Organizational
Leadership and her colleague Dr. Faith Wambura Ngunjiri, Assistant Professor and
Director of Research, both at Eastern University, are the first academics in North
America to receive the grants. They were chosen from a large field of strong applicants
from across the USA and Canada.
QSR International CEO John Owen said the grants will enable each institution to offer
their students access to the latest qualitative data analysis technology and research
methods, using NVivo 8 software.
"Qualitative research software is used in every major university in North America,
Europe and Australasia, but it's not always in the curricula," he said.
"Learning how to use NVivo 8 in the classroom will give students from Eastern University
and the University of Guelph a significant advantage. They'll be exposed to new tools,
the latest analysis techniques, and will have the opportunity to use the software on their
own research projects."
Dr. Chang, also the Chair of Graduate Education at Eastern University and the Editor-in-
Chief of the International Journal of Multicultural Education, already uses NVivo 8 in her
own research on gender, culture and leadership. She said the grant will enable 55 of her
students to fully explore the benefits of using the research software.
"From literature reviews to portfolio development, visual model-making to qualitative data
management and analysis, NVivo 8 will assist doctoral students in a variety of ways and
make a profound impact on their studies. The early introduction of the software and its
integration in the curriculum will help students make comprehensive and effective use of
this powerful tool," said Dr. Chang.
Dr. Aung, a respected researcher who has published 69 papers while working at top-
ranking academic institutions, including the Asian Institute of Technology and
Assumption University in Thailand, was also delighted by the win.
"Our students will have a chance to become familiar with innovative data analysis
software that can cater to visual material which is of particular relevance to their
generation. As a passionate educator and qualitative researcher, I truly welcome this
chance to create a great hands-on environment for our undergraduate students," she
said.
Media release
12 August 2009
For interviews or more
information
contact:
Liane Sayer-Roberts
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or email:
liane@saucecommunications.com.au
QSR's NVivo software allows users to import and analyze video, audio, images and text
side-by-side. Its powerful analysis tools help users to interrogate their data - testing out
theories, identifying trends and cross-examining information.
"NVivo is already used by academic, commercial and government organizations in more
than 150 countries on some of the world's most pressing issues, including climate
change, terrorism and poverty," said Mr. Owen.
"The grants were awarded to the University of Guelph and Eastern University as part of
a pilot designed to make qualitative data analysis software more accessible for students.
From New York to California, and British Columbia to Ontario, our independent review
panel was overwhelmed by the number and caliber of applications we received."
Mr Owen said the pilot had been such a success that QSR was considering extending
the grants program.
Independent judge Judith Davidson, Associate Professor at the University of
Massachusetts-Lowell, said the NVivo 8 Teaching Grants Program helped to fill a gap in
the curriculum for qualitative research.
"Qualitative data analysis software is becoming increasingly important for researchers,
marketers and other decision makers," she said.
"But the reality is that academics traditionally struggle for funds, particularly for the
application of new technology in the classroom. This type of program raises awareness
of not only the new tools and ways of working that are available, but the collective
commitment in academia to ensuring our students have the skills and practical
experience in these areas before they leave us."
Dr. Aung will incorporate NVivo 8 into the University of Guelph's Research Methods
course for BComm students this Fall. Drs. Chang and Ngunjiri will incorporate NVivo 8
into three different research courses for doctoral students at the same time.
About QSR International and NVivo
QSR International is the world’s largest qualitative research software developer and has offices in
Europe, North America and Australia. Its flagship product - NVivo 8 - allows users to upload and
analyze video, audio, images and text side-by-side. Use it to test theories; identify trends and
cross-examine information in a multitude of ways by classifying, sorting and arranging thousands
of pieces of information. Professional models and charts can be created, and NVivo project files
and results can be shared via mini websites – even with those who don’t have NVivo. The
software can also identify the work of individual team members even after separate projects are
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