Generating Nvivo matrix coding query

By Priya Chetty on September 5, 2018

The previous articles, explained how to carry out data analysis by generating Nvivo word frequency coding query. Queries can be generated in Nvivo by 3 ways; words, content and matrix coding. Not only words but also by number of nodes or classification in different nodes and attributes. For that purpose, Nvivo matrix coding query is useful. In the case research, two different interviewees’ responses about ‘preference towards teaching’, based on their ‘years of experience’ is examined. This article explains the process for generating queries in coding matrix.

To initiate Nvivo matrix coding query:

  1. Click on ‘Query’.
  2. Click on ‘Coding Matrix’.
  3. Dialogue box will appear.
Dialogue box for creating Nvivo matrix coding query
Figure 1: Dialogue box for creating Nvivo matrix coding query

The dialogue box that appears contains five main pages namely Row, Columns, Node Matrix, Matrix Coding Criteria and Query Options.

Nvivo matrix coding query in ‘Rows’

Rows helps in adding the attribute variables involved in a query. For instance, this query aims to analyse the teaching quality based on their experience. So, the number of years of experience is the attribute variable. To select the attributes, click on ‘Select’.

Different pages of Nvivo matrix coding query
Figure 2: Different pages of Nvivo matrix coding query

A dialogue box will open displaying all the project items. Select all the values of attribute ‘Experience in Teaching’ and click on ‘OK’.

Figure 3: Dialogue box for selecting project item for coding matrix
Figure 3: Dialogue box for selecting project item for matrix coding

 After selecting values of the concerned attribute, click on ‘Add to List’.

Nvivo matrix coding query dialogue box
Figure 4: Nvivo matrix coding query dialogue box

The rows page of dialogue box will appear.

Rows page of Nvivo matrix coding query
Figure 5: Rows page of Nvivo matrix coding query

Nvivo matrix coding query in ‘Column’

Column page helps in adding the nodes involved in the query. The teaching quality in the case research is derived through teaching preferences and teaching ability of teachers. So, teaching preferences and teaching ability of teachers are the nodes for this query. To select the nodes, click on ‘Select’ as shown in figure 2.

A dialogue box representing all the project items will open again. For this query the concerned nodes are ‘Preference for teaching’ and ‘Ability to Teach’. After selecting them, click on ‘OK’.

Figure 7: Selecting project item for coding matrix
Figure 7: Selecting project item for coding matrix

Then click on ‘Add to List’ to add the values of nodes in dialogue box  as shown in figure 4.

Matrix coding query in ‘Node Matrix’

Node matrix under ‘Matrix Coding Query’ helps select the appropriate content to fill in rows and columns. It can be viewed and selected through the following steps as shown below.

Figure 8: ‘Node Matrix’ page of ‘Matrix Coding Query’ dialogue box (part 1)
Figure 8: ‘Node Matrix’ page of ‘Matrix Coding Query’ dialogue box (part 1)
Figure 9: ‘Node Matrix’ page of ‘Matrix Coding Query’ dialogue box (part 2)
Figure 9: ‘Node Matrix’ page of ‘Matrix Coding Query’ dialogue box (part 2)

At the Node Matrix, ‘AND’ in the drop icon of ‘Search for Content of Rows’, was selected for the case research.

Nvivo matrix coding query using ‘Query Options’

Query options also help us to select the appropriate presentation of the matrix. To do this, either preview or create results as new node matrix.

Figure 10: 'Query Option' page of 'Matrix Coding Query'
Figure 10: ‘Query Option’ page of ‘Matrix Coding Query’

Under ‘Query Option’, select ‘Create Results as New Node Matrix’. Then choose the location to save the matrix coding using location browse. For that, click on ‘Select’ against ‘Location’. A dialogue box will appear. Choose ‘Nodes Matrices’ and then ‘OK’.

Figure 11: Query option page of ‘Matrix Coding Query’
Figure 11: Query option page of ‘Matrix Coding Query’

Give an appropriate name to the matrix coding query. Here it is named as ‘Teacher’s Experience versus Teacher’s Quality’. After that click on ‘Run’.

Query option page of Nvivo matrix coding query
Figure 12: Query option page of Nvivo matrix coding query

A separate window ‘Teacher’s Experience versus Teaching Quality’ will open. This coding matrix window is opened in two formats, ‘Node Matrix’ and ‘Charts’. The matrix represented in the figure below is in Nodes Matrix format.

Figure 13: Matrix coding window of ‘Teacher’s Experience versus Teaching Quality’
Figure 13: Matrix coding window of ‘Teacher’s Experience versus Teaching Quality’

Editing the matrix

Edit the coding matrix through additional tools in the ‘Nodes Matrix’ icon. On selecting ‘Words Coded’, the resultant matrix will change in terms of number of references in each cells of matrices.

Figure 14: Changing cell content through ‘Node Matrix’
Figure 14: Changing cell content through ‘Node Matrix’

In this matrix, each cell of the matrix will include the references of coded words. They are available at the intersection of concerned node and attribute.

Figure 15: Node matrix view of ‘Teacher’s Experience versus Teaching Quality’
Figure 15: Node matrix view of ‘Teacher’s Experience versus Teaching Quality’

Visualising data

The matrix will appear. This format visualizes information of selected nodes and attributes in a 3D diagram. Exported them by right-clicking on the chart window.

Figure 16: Chart view of ‘Teacher’s Experience versus Teaching Quality’
Figure 16: Chart view of ‘Teacher’s Experience versus Teaching Quality’

 The below figure shows the chart view of coding matrix of ‘Teacher’s Experience versus Teaching Quality’.

Figure 17: Exported chart of ‘Teacher’s Experience versus Teaching Quality’
Figure 17: Exported chart of ‘Teacher’s Experience versus Teaching Quality’

Change the chart style with the help of ‘Chart Tools’.

Figure 18: Additional chart tools
Figure 18: Additional chart tools

The chart type can also be changed to bar graphs.

Nvivo coding matrix query helped for referencing teachers’ experience and their ability to teach. The different charts and graphs helped us to relate the node along with its attribute.

Discuss