Matrix coding query

Matrix Coding queries enable you to see coding intersections between two lists of items.

You can use Matrix Coding queries to ask a wide range of questions about patterns in your coded data and gain access to the content that shows those patterns.

For example—depending on how you coded your data, you could compare Positive and Negative attitudes towards different themes:

Example of Matrix Coding query showing positive and negative sentiment about a collection of themes.

Or compare what different cases have said about an issue:

Example of Matrix Coding query showing positive and negative sentiment about a collection of themes.

You could also explore how terms are used in different contexts. For example, what do people say about Habitat in relation to the Economy?

Matrix coding query results showing how different terms are used.

Refer to Move forward with queries and visualizations for more ideas about how you can use Matrix Coding queries to explore your data.

The resulting node matrix can be saved in your project as a query result or with your nodes in the Node Matrices folder.

When you are working with a node matrix, you can:

  • Open a node from a matrix cell to see all the content coded at the cell (at both the row and column nodes)—double-click on a cell to open the node.
  • Apply shading to cells to make it easier to see patterns in the matrix
  • Change the information displayed in the matrix cells—for example number of files coded or number of nodes coded

Node matrices

Create a matrix coding query

  1. On the Query tab, in the Create group, click Matrix Coding.
  2. Choose where you want to search for coding:
    • Files and Externals—search for content in all the files in your project, including externals and memos
    • Selected Items—restrict your search to selected items (for example, a set containing interview transcripts)
    • Items in Selected Folders—restrict your search to content in selected folders (for example, a folder of interview transcripts)
  3. Define the rows of the matrix—under Rows, click the Add The add button button, then choose one of the following:
    • Select Items then select the files or nodes you want to display in rows, and then click Select.
    • Select Attribute Values and then select the attribute values you want to display in rows, and then click Select Attribute Values.
  4. Define the columns of the matrix—under Columns, click the Add The add button button, then choose one of the following:
    • Select Items then select the files or nodes you want to display in columns, and then click Select.
    • Select Attribute Values and then select the attribute values you want to display in columns, and then click Select Attribute Values.
  5. Click the Run Query button at the top of Detail View.

TIP  Click the Expand icon at the top of Detail View to make more room for working with your data. Customize the workspace

NOTES

  • You can use drag and drop to define the rows and columns of the matrix—in List View, select the files or nodes that you want to display, and then drag and drop them into the Rows or Columns box.
  • To select multiple attribute values, press the Command key (⌘) while clicking the attribute values you want to include. You can also click and drag to select a series of attribute values.
  • To rearrange the items in the Rows or Columns list, use the Move Up and Move Down buttons The up and down buttons. You can also use drag and drop to rearrange items.
  • To delete items in the Rows or Columns list, select one or more items, and then click Delete The delete button.
  • To save the query, click the Save Query button and enter the name and description (optional).

When the query has finished running, the results are displayed as a temporary preview in Detail View.

TIP  You can expand the result column widths or use the scroll bars. To re-size all the result columns at once, hold down the Option key while adjusting the column width.

Save the preview results as a node matrix

You can save the preview results as a node matrix in your project—either in the Results folder or Node Matrices folder. This is useful when you want to keep a record of the coding in your project at a particular point in time.

  1. Click the Save Results button at the top of Detail View.
  2. Enter a name and description for the node matrix.
  3. Click Save Results.

NOTE

  • By default new node matrices are created in the Results folder, unless you choose another location. 
  • You can run the query and save the results in a single operation—click Run Query and hold down the mouse button to access this option.