New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme: Using Computer-assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) for Documentary Analysis

Abstract

The present study examines documentary submission by Air New Zealand (NZ) [1], Business NZ [2], Greenpeace NZ [3] and Oxfam NZ [4] to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Review Committee in 2009. In doing so, this paper consulted Lewins and Silver’s Computer Assisted Qualitative Data Analysis Software (CAQDAS) which seeks to familiarise researchers with CAQDAS software package [5]. But the continuously changing information technologies field suggests that the useful book is no substitute for an exploration of the specifics of NVivo 10 – released in 2012. Asking whether the NZ corporate businesses shares similar concerns on the issue of climate change, this article uses NVivo 10 to explore some ways in which CAQDAS can be used to simultaneously provide concise description of changes in relationships and in-depth documentary analysis. Two of the key themes that emerged from analysis are carbon market and internationalisation, whereas the main finding shows a consensus among the four organisations that the international community must act in unison so as to effectively address climate change issues. Cluster analysis shows that words can be broadly grouped into three where members of each group share common characteristics. Also, there is better relationship and more coherence between Greenpeace, Air NZ and Business NZ submissions than that of Oxfam. In addition to the fact that computer science was included in NZ high schools curriculum barely four years ago [6], the present paper is significant in that it would assist qualitative researchers who may be considering CAQDAS especially NVivo 10 as a qualitative method as well as facilitate public and corporate entities an avenue to express their opinions regarding climate change issues.