We're developing this project in response to a number of challenges we saw with current qualitative data analysis (QDA) programs:

1. Non-academics are often intimidated by the amount of training required to use QDA programs and the high financial costs. We believe that everyone should be able to analyze text cheaply and easily.
2. Limitations on data access confine the user to a single machine, a localized network, or requires a portable hard drive. With all the high tech tools in existence, we find this constraint ridiculous. We believe that people have a right to their data, when they want it.
3. Consistency and accuracy among coders is a consistent challenge not addressed by most QDA programs. We believe researchers need tools that increase consistency in coding, gather coder information and allow you to intelligently adjudicate coding.
4. The science of coding has been little explored. This is an area of pride for qualitative researchers (who extol the artful nature of coding), and a constant complaint against qualitative research (from those who want it more like "science"). There is room for both art and science in qualitative research. We believe that researchers should be able to create art in their coding, but then have empirical metrics (such as a confidence interval) to report to the broader community.

We're expanding the core technology of Qualrus and compiling it into a web application that works with Qualrus to expand its auto-coding capabilities, multi-coder support, and ability to handle large data sets. Project Evolution will be ideally situated to deal with all variations of projects - from small to exceptionally large (one candidate survey receives over 16,000 responses per quarter).

Our goal is to dramatically speed up the coding process, while increasing the accuracy, reliability and validity of your analysis. We believe that qualitative research must stand up to empirically based, scientific scrutiny.

Our current Qualrus customers will be able to exchange their Qualrus data with this new web application, giving them a richer set of data analysis tools. Project Evolution will initially be offered as a beta test to the current users of Qualrus. This gives current users of Qualrus first access to the added benefits of Project Evolution, while retaining the value of Qualrus and any work you've already completed.

New customers will be able to use our new web application as a stand-alone data analysis tool, or combine it with Qualrus for added features. This allows each researcher to choose the combination of programs that fit their budjet and project needs.

We want to open the field of qualitative analysis to more people by providing intelligent, easy-to-use tools. Project Evolution will be accessible to the casual researcher, while still offering professional coding solutions. In addition to minimizing the learning curve, we want to make it inexpensive, too. Qualitative analysis should never be frightening -- it should be easy to do and light on the wallet.

Qualrus is a powerful collection of coding and analysis tools that has been used successfully by thousands of users for years. This well-tested functionality has proven to be a big benefit to those who use Qualrus. In order to get the powerful features you want now, get Qualrus. You will then be given priority to become a beta tester for Project Evolution.

Since Project Evolution is currently in development, we can't guarantee that any of these features will make it into the final product, but these are some of our goals:

1. Import/Export with Qualrus
2. Import/Export with other qualitative analysis programs
3. Online coding
4. Inter/Intra rater reliability
5. Easy adjudication between conflicts
6. Automatic coding combined with several strategies to allow the coder to see less segments.
7. A number of metrics that measure the validity of the results (e.g. confidence interval)

We're hoping to have a beta version released by the end of 2009 and will be soliciting beta testers at that time. Current Qualrus users will receive priority access to the beta.