GRASP
Tips for starting with NVivo
September 25th, 2025, by
You might have heard of NVivo and how it can help you organise and analyse qualitative data. But with everything else going on in your HDR project, it’s understandable that the idea of learning new software might feel overwhelming. The good news though is that getting started doesn’t need to be complicated. By exploring a few key features in one of the sample projects, you can build your confidence before working with your own materials - and hopefully save yourself time down the track.
The NVivo sample projects
One of the best ways to get a feel for NVivo is by opening one of the built-in sample projects. There are currently five to choose from – a multi-method and automated insights project you can open from the NVivo home screen, and a literature review, mixed methods and survey project you can download from the NVivo website (you can also read a little bit about each of the projects here too). All of these projects come pre-loaded with data (including interview transcripts, articles, surveys and media files), and with some analysis already completed. They’re a great way to get ideas for the kinds of things you might do with your own project data.
The key elements of the software
While NVivo offers a wide range of functionality, there are a few key concepts that are best to learn about first (and in fact, they might be all you ever need to know):
· Files: These are your research materials. Exploring the Data section of one of the sample projects will give you some ideas for the types of things you can include, and you can use the Import menu to experiment with adding new items to a project.
· Taking notes: You can take notes in NVivo using annotations on individual documents, or by creating linked documents called memos. You can explore these in one of the sample projects by looking in the Notes section.
· Coding: Coding allows you to bring together content on specific themes or topics from across your research materials. This is a core part of qualitative analysis in NVivo and can be explored in the Coding section of a sample project.
Places to learn more
If you decide you would like to learn more about NVivo, there are plenty of places to get assistance. The software’s Help menu has links to NVivo’s user help website (for Windows or Mac), their online tutorials and knowledge base, while Curtin Library has an Introduction to NVivo module (which includes instructions for downloading it) and runs various NVivo workshops during semester.
Remember, you don’t need to know everything to begin with, and getting started is often the hardest part. But if you focus on learning just enough to get going, you’ll likely find that any other features you need will make more sense as your project progresses.
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Image by Christin Hume on Unsplash