NVivo for Windows

Glossary of Terms
Term Definition

Advanced find Advanced Find lets you search for project items that meet certain criteria. You can set the search
criteria to suit your requirements. For example, you could search for items with certain properties or
sources that are coded at specific nodes.

Aggregate Gather the content of child nodes to the parent node. You can turn aggregation on or off at the
parent node. For example, if you turn on aggregation at the node 'Attitude' when you open the node,
you will see everything coded at its child nodes 'Negative' and 'Positive'.

Ancestor An ancestor is any node in the sequence from the parent node to the top of the node hierarchy. A
node may have more than one ancestor node (for example, a parent and parent's parent).

Annotation Text that is linked to specific content in a source. Like scribbled notes in the margin, annotations can
be used to record notes, comments and observations about the content of a source. You can
annotate sources directly or annotate source content displayed in node Detail View.

Associated A node which is displayed on the right (or below) a framework matrix. By default, the associated view
view displays content that is coded to the row (case) nodes in the framework matrix. You can change the
content displayed or highlighted in the associated view.

Attribute Attributes are used to describe a classified source or node. For example, a node may be classified
as 'person' with attributes for 'age' and 'gender'.

Attribute value The values of an attribute. For example, 'male' or 'female'.

Audio Source materials such as recorded interviews, podcasts, sound effects, and other forms of audio that
may be relevant to your research. Types of audio files that can be imported into NVivo include
*.mp3, *.m4a, *.wma,*.wav. An audio source contains the audio file and optionally a transcript.

Auto coding Automatic coding techniques which are a quick way to code large amounts of content. You can use
auto coding to code datasets, transcripts, and structured documents.

Band A band is a region on the Report Designer workspace that represents a part of the report. The main
part of the report is called the Detail band. Page Header and Footer bands display on each page,
while Report Header and Footer bands display at the beginning and end of the report. If your report
includes grouping, you will also see Group Header and Group Footer bands.
Term Definition

Boolean The use of AND, OR or NOT to combine search terms.

operator

Boolean Value pairs such as True/False, Yes/No or 0/1.

values

Case A case is a research subject, for example, a person, place or organization. You can create a node to
gather all material related to a case. You can also classify the node to record demographic
attributes. For example, classify a node as a 'person' and record attributes for 'age' and 'sex'.

Chart A way of visualizing your data. You can use charts to show patterns in your data, such as the
distribution of coding or attribute values.

Child node A node below a parent node.

Classification Classification sheets list all the sources or nodes of a particular classification and display the
sheets attribute values for each source or node. You can update attribute values in a classification sheet.

Classifications Classifications provide a way to record descriptive information about the sources, nodes and
relationships in your project. Source classifications allow you to record information about your
sources (for example, bibliographical data). Node classifications allow to you record information
about people, places or other entities (for example, demographic data about people). Relationship
types allow you to record the nature of a relationship which is defined by a relationship node.

Classify The process of describing a source or node by setting the classification and attribute values. For
example, classify a node as a 'person' of a particular 'age' or 'sex'. You can classify sources and
nodes manually. You can also classify sources or nodes by importing classifying information. If you
auto code social media datasets (for example, a Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn dataset) by
username, the username nodes are automatically classified. If your project has other datasets, the
Classify from Dataset Wizard can use the values in classifying fields to set the attribute values on
nodes.

Classifying A dataset field (column) which is used to store values that describe your data (for example, the age
field and sex of survey respondents) or scaled responses (for example, strongly agree or agree). You can
use classifying fields to sort and filter the dataset, but you cannot code or query content stored in
these fields.

Cluster A tool for grouping sources or nodes that share similar words, similar attribute values, or are coded
analysis similarly by nodes. Cluster analysis diagrams provide a graphical representation of sources or nodes
to make it easy to see similarities and differences. Sources or nodes in the cluster analysis diagram
that appear close together are more similar than those that are far apart.

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Term Definition

Codable fields A dataset field (column) which is used to store the text that you want to analyze, for example,
responses to open-ended survey questions. You can analyze the content of these fields (code,
annotate, link and query), but you cannot use values in these fields to sort and filter the dataset.

Coded at When you select content and categorize it as belonging to a specific node (topic or research
subject), the text is said to be 'coded at' the node.

Coding Selecting source content and defining it as belonging to a specific node (topic or research subject).
By creating nodes and coding at them, you can catalogue your ideas and gather material by topic or
case.

Coding The content that surrounds coded content in a source. When exploring a node, you can choose to
context spread coding to the context.

Coding Areas in a source or node in which most coding occurs. The Coding Density bar is visible when you
density display Coding Stripes. The color graduations indicate the coding density from white (no coding), to
light gray (minimal coding), to dark gray (maximum coding).

Coding All or part of a coding reference in a node. For text-based sources you can display the whole
excerpt reference, the first paragraph or just the summary information.

Coding An occurrence of coding. When you open a node, you can see all the references to source material
reference that are gathered at the node.

Coding stripes Colored stripes that enable you to see coding in a source or node.

Collections Collections are views (or groupings) of project items that are stored elsewhere in your project. The
Collections group contains your Search Folders, Sets, and folders showing all the memo links,
annotations and 'See Also' links in your project.

Color You can assign a color to users, sources, nodes, relationships and attribute values. Color can help
you to visually identify items in models, visualizations and coding stripes.

Connector A line that joins shapes in a model.

Control Controls are rectangular objects on the Report Designer workspace that represent the information
that will be displayed when the report is run. You can move and resize controls.

Coverage The percentage of a source that is coded at a node.

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Term Definition

Dataset A type of source that contains structured data arranged in rows and columns. You can create a
dataset by importing data from a spreadsheet, a tab or comma-separated text file or a database
table. You can also create a dataset by importing NCapture files that contain data from Facebook,
LinkedIn or Twitter.

Detail view The bottom-right pane in NVivo. You explore project items such as sources, nodes, and models in
this view. Query results and visualizations are also displayed in Detail View. You can 'undock' Detail
View, if you prefer to work in a separate window.

Document Source material such as field notes, transcripts, interviews or any other material that is relevant to
your project. You can create new documents in NVivo or import files that are in .doc, .docx, .txt, or
.rtf format.

Dynamic A model that can be edited. Dynamic models may contain shapes that are linked to items in your
model project. If you change the properties of the project item, the changes will be reflected in your model.

Edit mode When you are in edit mode, you can edit the content of sources and models. Sources and models
open in read-only mode, you must switch to edit mode, if you want to change the content.

Event log A log of changes to your project. If project logging is turned on, a project event is recorded whenever
you change the project. For example, when you import a dataset, modify a document source, code
source content at a node, or create and save a new query.

Expressions Expressions are used in reports to define what data is displayed on the report. Fields are a simple
form of an expression. Expressions can also combine fields and functions to perform calculations
based on the data in your report. To add or modify an expression, use Report Designer.

External A type of source used to represent source material that cannot be imported into NVivo. This might
include items such as physical books, or 8mm film. You can use the external to represent the item
and summarize or describe the source material. You can code your summary or description, in the
same way that you code text in a document source.

Extract A template for extracting data from NVivo to a data file. You can run a predefined extract supplied
with NVivo, or create your own custom extract to select the data you want. The extracted data can
be saved to a text file, spreadsheet or XML file.

Field Fields are types of information displayed in datasets, transcripts, picture logs, report results or
extract results. Different records contain different data for these fields. For example a survey dataset
might contain fields (columns) for name, age and responses to survey questions, and records (rows)
containing values for each field.

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Term Definition

Framework A grid where the columns are theme nodes, the rows are case nodes, and the cells contain
matrix summaries. Each summary describes the content coded at the case node that is relevant to the
theme.

Fuzzy search Find words of similar spelling when you run a Text Search query by entering a tilde (~) after the
word.

Graph A visual representation of a project item showing how it is connected to other items in your project.

Hyperlink A link from content in a source to a file or URL outside of your NVivo project.

Leaf node In a node hierarchy, a node without children is a leaf node.

Links In NVivo, links refer to memo links, annotations and 'See Also' links.

List view The top-right pane in the NVivo window. You view the contents of your NVivo folders in List View.

Log entry Comments, descriptions, notes, hyperlinks, or ideas entered against the whole or portion of the
image in a picture source. A picture source may or may not contain log entries.

Media file Refers to both audio and video files.

Memo A type of source that you might use to record thoughts and observations. If a memo is related to a
particular source or node you can create a 'memo link' and link the two together.

Memo link The link between a source or node and a memo. A memo can be linked to one item only.

Model A model can be a visual representation of your project. The shapes on the model are linked to the
items in your project. You can also create models that are not linked to project items. For example,
you could create a model to visually explore your initial ideas.

Model groups Groups of model items that can be hidden or displayed as required. NVivo provides model groups
based on the properties (color, classification, attribute values or relationship type) of project items in
the model, and you can create custom groups of selected model items.

Model style A set of formatting characteristics that you can apply to shapes or connectors in a model to quickly
change its appearance.

Navigation The panel on the left side of the NVivo window. It contains groups that enable you to access project
view items.

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Term Definition

NCapture A web browser extension that enables you to gather material from the web as NCapture files (.nvcx)
which you can import into NVivo. You can use NCapture to gather web pages and online PDF
documents to import into NVivo as PDF sources. You can also use NCapture to gather data from
Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn and import it into NVivo as dataset sources.

Nickname A short name that you give to a node for the purpose of quick coding.

Node A container that lets you gather source content relating to themes, people, places, organizations or
other areas of interest. For example, you can create a node called 'pollution' and code all pollution-
related data at it. When you open the node you can see all the pollution-related data gathered in one
place. You can organize nodes into hierarchies, moving from general topics at the top (the parent
node) to more specific topics (child nodes). Relationships and Matrices are special types of nodes.
Relationships are nodes that show a relationship, for example, a relationship between two people. A
matrix is a collection of nodes created by running a matrix coding query.

Node matrix A node matrix is a collection of nodes resulting from a Matrix Coding query.

Paragraph Text between two carriage returns. You can apply a paragraph style to the text in a paragraph.

Paragraph Paragraphs in document sources are numbered, these numbers can be included when printing or
number exporting a source or node. In a node, paragraph numbers relate to a reference's position in the
document source.

Paragraph A set of formatting characteristics that you can apply to text to quickly change its appearance.
style

Parent node A node that has child nodes below it in the node hierarchy.

PDF Source material that is available in PDF file format - for example, newspaper articles, government
reports, and journal articles. You can also bring web pages into NVivo as PDF sources, by capturing
the content of the page using NCapture and then importing it into NVivo.

Picture Source materials such as photographs and other types of images that may be relevant to your
research. Types of image files that can be imported into NVivo include .bmp, .gif, .jpg, .jpeg, .tif, or
.tiff formats. A picture source contains the picture and the option of log entries.

Query A way of asking questions about your data. You can save a query and run it at regular intervals as
your project progresses.

Range coding An automatic coding technique that allows you to code multiple similarly structured sources. For
example, range code paragraphs 1 to 3 in all your document sources at the node 'solar energy'.
Range coding is also an easy way to get paper-based coding into NVivo.

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Term Definition

Read-only You cannot edit the content of sources and models in read-only mode. When you open a source or
model it opens in read-only mode. If you want to edit the item, you must switch to edit mode.

Region Selected area of a picture or PDF source.

Relationship A node that defines the connection between two project items. Sources and/or nodes can be
connected via a relationship. For example, the relationship between two nodes representing
research subjects (Anne works with Bill) or between two theme nodes (Agricultural Runoff impacts
Water Quality).

Relationship Defines the characteristics of a relationship. The relationship type includes a word or words that
type describe the relationship (for example, 'impacts', 'causes' or 'works with') and the direction of the
relationship (for example, one-way or symmetrical).

Report A template for generating a printable record of the data in your project. You can run a predefined
report supplied with NVivo, or create your own custom report and select the data you want to include
in the report.

Result A node or list of project items resulting from a query. You can store a result node in the Queries
Results folder or move it to the main node system.

Search folder Search Folders display project items that meet previously defined search criteria. For example, a
Search Folder might display all the nodes you created in the last week.

See also link A link from selected content in a source to another item (or other selected content) in your project.

Server A server connection contains the information that NVivo needs in order to connect to an NVivo
connection Server. You need a server connection if you want to create or open a server project..

Server project An NVivo project that is stored on an NVivo Server. When you work in a server project, multiple
users can access the same project at the same time.

Set A collection of project items that can include sources or nodes. The items in the set are references or
'shortcuts' to the original items that are stored elsewhere in your project.

Shadow Patterned coding stripes on audio, video and picture sources. When you code the picture or media
coding timeline, the corresponding log or transcript entries are shadow-coded.

Sibling nodes Nodes in a hierarchy that share the same parent node.

Source In NVivo, 'sources' is the collective term for your research materials anything from hand-written
diaries, video interviews, to survey responses. You store sources in the Internals, Externals or
Memos folders.

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Term Definition

Standalone An NVivo project that is saved to your computer, or to a network drive as a .nvp file.
project

Static model A 'snapshot' of an existing model. You cannot edit static models and they are not linked to live data.

Stop words Words that will be ignored by Text Search queries and Word Frequency queries. Default stop words
are provided for English (UK), English (US), French, German, Portuguese and Spanish. You can
customize the stop word list by adding or removing stop words.

Summary A summary is a condensed version of the primary source materials and it is related to a particular
case node and theme node. Summaries are created and viewed in framework matrices, but are
stored independently in your project.

Summary link A link from selected content in a summary (which can be viewed in a framework matrix) to selected
content displayed in the associated view.

System- Folders that are supplied with NVivo such as Internals, Memos and Externals. You cannot delete or
defined rename system-defined folders.
folders

Thumbnails Miniature images or graphics. You can set your List View options to display source items as
thumbnails. This is particularly useful when you are working with picture and video sources,

Timeline Displays the duration of the audio or video file.

Timespan A timespan is the duration of time for a transcript entry. For example, Jane spoke from the two
minute point to the ten minute point

(00:02:00-00:10:00).

Transcript Contains audio or video transcriptions against specific timespans. You can also include notes,
hyperlinks or comments in the transcript.

Tree map A tree map is a diagram that shows hierarchical data as nested rectangles of varying sizes.

User profile A user profile contains information which identifies a project user, for example, their name and
initials.

User-defined Folders created by NVivo users. You can create user folders to organize your sources, nodes,
folders queries, models, reports and extracts. You can rename and delete user-defined folders.

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Term Definition

Video Source materials such as focus group discussion videos, tv ads and other forms of video that may
be relevant to your research. Types of video files that can be imported into NVivo include *.avi,
*.3gp, *.mov, *.mpg, *.mpeg, *.mpe, *.mp4, *.mts, *.m2ts, *.qt, and *.wmv. A video source contains
the video file and (optionally) a transcript.

View In reports and extracts a 'view' is a virtual database table. There are five different views: node, node
classification, source, source classification and project item. When you define a report or extract,
select the view which contains the fields you want to include in your report or extract.

Wildcard A keyboard character such as an asterisk (*) or a question mark (?) that is used to represent one or
more characters when you are searching for project items such as sources, nodes or sets. For
example: g*t will find get, great and gt.

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