Qualitative Data Analysis with NVivo

Pat Bazeley was awarded a PhD in community psychology for an action research based thesis which argued that community development was an effective strategy for the promotion of mental health in a disadvantaged population (Macquarie U, 1980). After graduating she worked in community development and as a freelance researcher, undertaking projects in public health, welfare, education, law and community studies. From 1991-9 she was responsible for research development (and for four years, administration also) for academic staff at the University of Western Sydney. Currently, she holds senior part time positions in research centres at The University of New South Wales (in the Centre for Primary Health Care and Equity) and the Australian Catholic University (in the Quality of Life and Social Justice Research Centre). In consequence, she has had experience with research design and methodology broadly across the social sciences.

As a research methodologist, through Research Support, Pat now provides research consulting and retreat facilities for researchers from a wide range of disciplines (and countries) at the Research Farm near Bowral, in the southern highlands of NSW. Additionally, she provides training and consulting services for academics, graduate students and practitioners in universities, government departments and commercial organisations both locally and internationally. Her particular expertise is in helping researchers to make sense of both quantitative and qualitative data and to use computer programs for management and analysis of data. Her passion is to help people move beyond simple descriptive analyses of rich data.

Pat's own research has been focused in two quite different substantive areas: around the motivation, development, performance and careers of researchers; and in public/community health issues. She has a particular interest in mixed methods research, where she is exploring tools and techniques for integrating analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, and the methodological implications of doing so.

Pat has served as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Mixed Methods Research, reviews articles and research proposals for a wide range of journals and international funding bodies, and has published books, chapters and articles on qualitative and mixed methods data analysis. She has also published on immunisation services, and on the career development and performance of researchers.