The Digital Revolution in Qualitative Research: Working with Digital Audio Data Through Atlas.Ti.

This article presents information related to the digital revolution in qualitative research. Modern versions of Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) are enabling the analysis of audio sound files instead of relying solely on text-based analysis. Along with other developments in computer technologies such as the proliferation of digital recording devices and the potential for using streamed media in online academic publication, this innovation is increasing the possibilities of systematically using media-rich, naturalistic data in place of transcribed 'denaturalized' forms. While such issues continue to be discussed, comparatively little is being made of the potentials of either CAQDAS or online publication formats for the use and representation of audio and visual digital data formats in qualitative research. Currently, the dominant research convention within qualitative research is to obtain audio and sometimes audiovisual data from interviews, focus groups, observations or participant observations and transcribe that data for the purposes of both analysis with CAQDAS and subsequent publication in print or online journals.