Computer analysis of qualitative data: a comparison of three packages.

This article describes and compares three computer programs designed to assist in the analysis of narrative text. Ethnograph, GATOR, and Martin were compared in the context of a qualitative study of women and their husbands following mastectomy in order to (a) describe the fit between research purpose and program capabilities and (b) explore the influence, if any, of particular program features on research methods or analysis. The comparison suggests that methodological assistance provided by the programs involves differences in approach sufficient to make prior consideration of the fit between program capabilities and research purposes, methods, and style an important research decision. Descriptions of the programs and their application provide guidelines for comparison of these and other computer programs.