Software: Qualitative Data and Text Analysis with MAXQDA

MAXQDA is software developed by VERBI. It is used to analyze the content of interviews, texts, and media such as image, audio, and video files. MAXQDA runs on Windows and macOS.

  1. Basic Information
  2. Requirements
  3. Features
  4. Sign Up
  5. Information for Students
  6. Information for Instructors
  7. Guides and FAQs

Basic Information

Applications Qualitative analysis of interviews, texts, and media (image, audio, and video files).
Who is it for? JGU staff and students who conduct qualitative data analysis—particularly in the social sciences, humanities, and education.
Responsible Data Center (ZDV) – softwarelizenzen@zdv.uni-mainz.de
Usage ZDV Apps – Software at work
Remote Desktop – Working from an Off-Campus Workplace
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Requirements

  • Provisioning: MAXQDA is not available by default. First assign the software to yourself via ZDV Apps – Software at work. Only then is MAXQDA available both in the computer rooms and via the Remote Desktop Service (RDS).
  • Users: A valid JGU account. Logging in with your JGU account is required for the assignment via ZDV Apps, for use in the computer rooms, and for use via RDS.
  • Operating system: Windows. On macOS and Linux, MAXQDA can only be used via RDS (MAXQDA does not run natively on Linux).
  • Private devices: Installation and use on private devices is not intended; a license server for local installation is not provided.
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Features

  • Content analysis of interviews, texts, and media (image, audio, and video files)
  • Coding and categorization of qualitative data
  • Visualization of analysis results
  • Available on Windows and, independent of your operating system, via the Remote Desktop Service (RDS)
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Sign Up

Use takes place in two steps: first you assign MAXQDA to yourself via ZDV Apps, then you start the program in the computer rooms or via RDS. In each case you log in with your JGU account.

Step 1: Assign MAXQDA via ZDV Apps

  1. Go to ZDV Apps – Software at work.
  2. Log in with your JGU account credentials.
  3. In the overview, select the entry MAXQDA and assign it to your account.

Step 2a: Use in the ZDV computer rooms

  1. Log in to a computer in the computer rooms with your JGU account credentials.
  2. Start MAXQDA from the Start menu or the installed application. The software is only available after the assignment in step 1.

Step 2b: Use via Remote Desktop (RDS)

  1. Go to the page Remote Desktop – Working from an Off-Campus Workplace.
  2. Establish a connection to the remote desktop – either via an HTML5-capable browser (all operating systems) or via a remote desktop client.
  3. Log in with your JGU account credentials and start MAXQDA. Here too, the assignment in step 1 is a prerequisite.
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Information for Students

As a JGU student, you can use MAXQDA in two ways – in both cases, however, an assignment via ZDV Apps is required first:

  1. Assignment: Assign MAXQDA to yourself via ZDV Apps – Software at work using your JGU account. Without this assignment, the program is available neither in the computer rooms nor via RDS.
  2. Use: Then use MAXQDA either in the ZDV computer rooms on a computer logged in with your JGU account, or via the Remote Desktop Service (RDS) on the remote workplace.

Operating systems: A local installation is only possible on Windows. If you use macOS or Linux, access is only possible via RDS.

Important: Use on private devices is not intended; a license server for local installation is not provided. Please use the computer rooms or the RDS access instead.

Further information: Remote Desktop – Working from an Off-Campus Workplace

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Information for Instructors

If you use MAXQDA in a course, you can request free course licenses for all participants in your course from the manufacturer VERBI:

These course licenses are independent of the JGU network license. Under such a course license, and as an exception to the rules above, MAXQDA may also be used on participants’ own devices. Please also point out the assignment via ZDV Apps to your participants if MAXQDA is to be used in the computer rooms or via RDS.

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Guides and FAQs

A ZDV-specific guide is not currently available. The following external documentation can be consulted for using MAXQDA:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): You can find answers to frequently asked questions on the manufacturer’s support page as well as in the MAXQDA application’s built-in help.

If you have questions about the license, please write to: softwarelizenzen@zdv.uni-mainz.de

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