Software for data analysis in qualitative research: a report on the use of Iramuteq in a grounded theory-based study

Abstract

To analyze and describe the use of the Iramuteq software in qualitative research conducted through Grounded Theory, focusing on the production, distribution, and use of academic books in the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). A qualitative approach was adopted, based on Grounded Theory and the statistical technique of Descending Hierarchical Classification (DHC), applied to a corpus of interviews with CNPq productivity scholarship researchers in the fields of Law and Sociology. The findings highlight the effectiveness of Iramuteq in qualitative data analysis and its support for the application of Grounded Theory, especially through DHC. The analyses showed the continued centrality of the book in scholarly communication within the SSH and revealed differences between the fields studied regarding editorial practices, such as the relevance attributed to book chapters, edited volumes, and collections. The use of Iramuteq enhanced the qualitative analysis but requires both technical and theoretical expertise from the researcher. The study reinforces the importance of a critical and well-grounded use of computational tools in qualitative research in the field of Information Science.