Understand text match settings
This topic explains the text match options you can use in Text Search and Word Frequency queries.
In this topic
- Understand the text match options in NVivo Starter
- Understand the text match options in NVivo Pro and NVivo Plus
- Can I find synonyms and other related words in any language?
- When I look for similar words, I get words I did not expect
Understand the text match options in NVivo Starter
When you run a Text Search query you can search for exact matches or words with the same stem—for example, sport and sporting.
When you run a Word Frequency query you can count exact words, or group words with the same stem together, so that you find the most frequently occurring concepts.
You can search for words with the same stem when your source materials are in one of the following languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese or Spanish. If your source materials are in any other language (for example, Hindi or Korean), then Text Search queries will find exact matches only and Word Frequency queries will count each word separately. It is important that the text content language for your project is correctly set—it should match the language used in your source materials. Refer to Set the text content language and stop words for more information.
Understand the text match options in NVivo Pro and NVivo Plus
When you run a Text Search query you can extend your search beyond exact matches to find similar words such as synonyms. When you run a Word Frequency query, you can count exact words, or group similar words together, so that you find the most frequently occurring concepts.
You can adjust the text match level using a slider—by default the slider is set to return exact matches only. As you move the slider, you include more types of similar words. There are five levels:
| Level | Returns | Example (sport) |
| 1 | Exact matches only | sport |
| 2 | Exact matches
Words with same stem |
sport, sporting |
| 3 | Exact matches
Words with same stem Synonyms (words with a very close meaning) |
sport, sporting, play, fun |
| 4 | Exact matches
Words with same stem Synonyms (words with a very close meaning) Specializations (words with a more specialized meaning) |
sport, sporting, play, fun, running, basketball |
| 5 | Exact matches
Words with same stem Synonyms (words with a very close meaning) Specializations (words with a more specialized meaning—a 'type of') Generalizations (words with a more general meaning) |
sport, sporting, play, fun, running, basketball, recreation, business |
Can I find synonyms and other related words in any language?
This feature is available in NVivo Pro and NVivo Plus.
You can only find synonyms and other related words when your source materials are in one of the following languages: Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese or Spanish.
If your source materials are in Chinese or Japanese, you cannot search for words with the same stem—'Including stemmed words' will generate the same results as 'Exact matches only'. Adjust the slider if you want to find synonyms, specializations, and generalizations.
If your source materials are in any other language (for example, Hindi or Korean), then Text Search queries will find exact matches only and Word Frequency queries will count each word separately.
It is important that the text content language for your project is correctly set—it should match the language used in your source materials. Refer to Set the text content language and stop words for more information.
When I look for similar words, I get words I did not expect
This feature is available in NVivo Pro and NVivo Plus.
When your query is set up to look for similar words including specializations and generalizations, you may get results that you do not expect.
A word can have several different meanings. For example, in English the word row, has many meanings, including:
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(Noun) An argument
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(Verb) To propel a boat using oars
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(Noun) A number of objects arranged in a line
When NVivo looks for synonyms, it will find synonyms for all possible meanings of the word. So, using the example row, it may return the words fight, quarrel, paddle, and line.
If you extend the search to include specializations and generalizations, NVivo will find specializations and generalizations for all possible meanings. So, using the example row, it might return the words conflict, sport, athletics, table, array, course, damp course, wall, layer, bed, terrace.
If you are having difficulty understanding why certain words appear in the search results, it may be helpful to check the meaning of your search term in a dictionary. If the word has multiple meanings, it will have more synonyms, specializations, and generalizations.