The guest of the event organized within the scope of KİMER Academy activities was Certified MAXQDA Trainer Burak Varol. During the training held on Monday, April 20, at the Advanced Technology Application and Research Center (İLTAM) Meeting Hall, Varol shared with participants the basic philosophy of qualitative research, coding processes, and the technical details of analysis software, emphasizing that qualitative analysis is not merely a software process but also a profound “art of making data speak.”

In the workshop conducted practically through the MAXQDA program by graduate students and academicians of Pamukkale University, Trainer Burak Varol explained in detail the process of qualitative analysis beginning with “codes,” the smallest unit of meaning, extending to categories and higher themes, as well as technical stages such as examining and interpreting texts through sample projects. While drawing attention to the differences between deductive and inductive methods used in research during the workshop, Varol emphasized that mastery of the literature is the most important factor directly affecting the quality of analysis results. Varol added: “In qualitative analysis, we use two methods: deductive or inductive. In deduction, we derive our themes from the literature. You need to have a very strong command of the literature. The more you master it, the better your analyses and results become.”

During the training, where the role of artificial intelligence in coding data was also discussed, it was emphasized that at least ten percent of the data should be coded by a second researcher to ensure the reliability and validity of the research, while it was stated that AI tools could accelerate the process, but the initiative of “understanding and interpreting what the data says” should always remain with the researcher.

Following the question-and-answer session held after informing participants about their thesis processes and the research they would prepare throughout the semester, the event concluded with the presentation of a certificate of appreciation to Trainer Burak Varol by Eylin Aktaş, Director of the Corporate Communication Application and Research Center.