(Re) pensar o ofício do investigador qualitativo, hoje: metáforas, ferramentas e competências em CAQDAS

Abstract

Traditionally associated with quantitative research, the use and mastery of diverse software is nowadays an indelible characteristic of the qualitative researcher. Anchored on the author’s experience within the context of the qualitative research developed during the preparation of her doctoral thesis, this paper addresses the set of metaphors, tools and skills forcing to (re)think the craft of the qualitative research at present times. By the end, we argue that the acronym CAQDAS must extend beyond a restricted meaning that associates it with specific software of processing and data analysis (such as Atlas.ti, MaxQda, NVivo or WebQda), to encompass a diverse set of tools aimed to help the qualitative researcher at different times and stages of research. Such evidence is developed here using the metaphor of a researcher that, besides being a “choreographer,” “maestro” and “bricoleur” is (should be) also a “geek” researcher.