In 2010, in the so-called KWALON experiment, representatives of selected CAQDAS-Software were invited to analyze a dataset composed of newspapers articles and videos related to the 2008 financial crisis.[10][11] The software packages Atlas.ti, MAXQDA, NVivo, Transana and Cassandre were taking part in the experiment. Commentators depicted Cassandre as the only software limited to text material[12] and as an integrated approach between algorithms and hand-made coding.[13] The experiment, however, suggested that the outcome of the analysis depended more of the analysis strategy than the software.[14]
Features
Its features include:
Semi-automatic coding (through registers)
Collaborative writing (through shared diaries)
Participative research (through shared memos)
Organizing memos
Diagramming
History
Christophe Lejeune created Cassandre's first version in 2006 after his post-doctoral stay in the University of Technology of Troyes where he involved in the Social Semantic Web team and participated the definition of the Hypertopic protocol.[15] This protocol was used by Cassandre to exchange data with other software tool from the Hypertopic suite. As a server, Cassandre was storing texts and provided a semi-automated coding feature. Rather than highlighting excerpts (like in most of QDA software), the user highlights keywords or idioms (markers) that instantly match several excerpts of material. These markers are gathered in into registers, which represent analysis categories.[16] Markers and registers are created, managed and browsed with Porphyry's Portfolio, a Hypertopic client developed in Java by Aurélien Bénel. Cassandre also provided meta-data and some lexical analysis (words counts) accessible through the Porphyry sidebar, a Firefox add-on.
Cassandre second version surfaced in 2010. Initially designed as PHP/SQL server (first MySQL then PostgreSQL), Cassandre was refactored as a CouchDB application. Lexical analysis was optimized and included in the per text view. Coding was integrated to the browser thanks to a Firefox add-on, LaSuli, developed by Chao Zhou.
Released in 2017, the third version of Cassandre consists in a in-depth refactoring. Resting on a typology of memos inspired by Grounded Theory Method, the application provides collaborative diaries aimed at structuring qualitative analyzes. Rather than coding, analysis is made through writing.
^Cahier J.-P., Brébion P., Salembier P., 2016, Using and Supporting Explicit Viewpoints in Territorial Participatory Design Meetings, European Conference on Knowledge Management, p. 136-145
^Geisler, C., 2016, Current and Emerging Methods in the Rhetorical Analysis of Texts. Toward an Integrated Approach, Journal of Writing Research, 7, 3.
^Gilbert, L., Jackson K. & di Gregorio S., 2014, Tools for Analyzing Qualitative Data: The History and Relevance of Qualitative Data Analysis Software, in Spector M. et al. (dir.), Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology, New York, Springer, p. 221-236
