Explore the sample project
A sample project is provided with each edition of the NVivo software to illustrate many of the key features of NVivo. This topic explains what is in the sample project, how to access it and how you can use it to explore and experiment.
In this topic
- Environmental Change Down East sample project
- Local Government Budget Consultation sample project
- How do I open the sample project?
- What can I do in the sample project?
- Using the server version of the sample project
Environmental Change Down East sample project
There are two versions of this project—a tailored version for NVivo Starter edition, and a full version available in NVivo Pro and NVivo Plus.
The source materials in the Environmental Change Down East sample project are drawn from a two year study (2008-2009) undertaken by researchers from the Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment at the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, N.C. This study documented community perceptions of development and land-use change on coastal communities in the Down East area of Carteret County, North Carolina, USA.
Additional source materials have been added to demonstrate the social media analysis features of NVivo 10.
New cases and relationships have been added to demonstrate the social network analysis features of NVivo 11.
Local Government Budget Consultation sample project
This feature is available in NVivo Plus.
NVivo Plus users can experiment with auto coding themes and auto coding sentiment using a sample project tailored for the automated insights feature.
Based on a local government budget consultation survey conducted in the United Kingdom, this project contains three large documents relating to the public consultation process:
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Under pressure - how councils are planning for future cuts is a report that describes a local government situation in the UK
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Future funding - initial draft is a report that gives context to the survey sample data
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Budget Consultation Survey is a dataset containing survey results from council residents regarding its annual budget. Residents were asked about budget cuts, if they agreed with the council's budget priorities, and if they thought the council should increase tax to help address the funding gap. The survey included two open-ending questions: residents were asked to offer further comments on the budget options, and to offer any other suggestions on how the council could save money.
How do I open the sample project?
You can create your own copy of the sample project at any time. You can create as many copies as you need—for example, you might create a copy of the sample project to experiment with coding and then create a fresh copy to experiment with queries.
Copies of the sample project are saved in the default project location set in Application Options.
To create a copy of the sample project:
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On the Start screen, in the New section, click Sample Project.
NVivo opens a copy of the sample project which is stored in your default project location.
NOTE: NVivo Plus users can also choose to click Automated Insight Sample Project.
What can I do in the sample project?
You can use the sample project to explore and experiment—see how a real project can be structured and experiment with NVivo's powerful analysis tools. You can explore:
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Source materials—there is a dataset of survey responses and a dataset containing Twitter data. There are also documents and PDFs (containing interview transcripts, news articles and web pages), audio and video recordings, and pictures of the Down East area.
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Memos—the memos were used to communicate within the research team, and document the progress of the project.
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Node structures—there are nodes for themes, and case nodes for people and places. There are also nodes for interview/survey questions and Twitter hashtags that were created by auto coding. Try adding your own nodes and then experiment with coding the content of documents, datasets, videos and other types of sources.
Experiment with queries and visualizations—for example, you can:
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Run the queries that are set up in the project—the project has saved queries of all types. You can also create your own queries and experiment with query criteria.
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Generate a cluster analysis diagram to group sources or nodes that share similar words, attribute values or coding.
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Generate a hierarchy chart to see patterns of distribution—for example, you can use a tree map to compare the distribution of coding across thematic nodes.
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Create a chart to compare coding or attribute values
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Select a source and create an explore diagram to see how it is connected to other project items
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Visualize social networks by generating an egocentric sociogram, a network sociogram or analyze a Twitter dataset as a Twitter sociogram. (NVivo Plus only)
You can also use the sample project to see how:
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Folders can be used to organize source materials, node structures, queries and maps
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Source classifications can be used to store information (including bibliographical data) about the sources in the project
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Case classifications can be used to store information about people and places in the project
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Reports and extracts provide summary information about your project
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Automated insights can automatically detect themes and sentiment in a set of sources. (NVivo Plus only)
Using the server version of the sample project
If you are able to connect to an NVivo Server and create server projects, you may notice that the server has its own version of the sample project. The sample project will appear in the list of projects available on your NVivo Server.
You cannot make any changes to the server version of the sample project—it is read only. You can open the server sample project and explore the sources, nodes and other project items. You can run queries, generate visualizations such as charts and tree maps, but you cannot make changes—for example, you cannot edit or code sources or save a query and report criteria.
If you want to experiment with the project—for example, create and save new queries or add your own coding, then you must create your own copy of the sample project—refer to Save and copy projects for more information.