Rigorous, rapid, reliable and qualitative? Computing in qualitative method.

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether qualitative methods are problematic and persuasive in health education research.

METHOD

Explored this problem through the 3 goals of rigor, rapidity, and reliability and their special meanings in qualitative analysis.

RESULTS

For each, contributions of qualitative computing software are identified and their effects assessed.

CONCLUSION

Qualitative researchers are assisted by software tools in pursuit of each of these goals, but in each area there is a need for software design to address the tasks of research where rigor, rapidity, and reliability are paramount requirements.