Conducting Qualitative Research on Visual Data

Sample Analysis of Finger-Bending Behavior Using "Mivurix"

Abstract

Visual data are not readily amenable to verbalization, which makes it difficult to analyze such data qualitatively. This study examined the usefulness of the add-on software "mirvux" for Microsoft Excel for qualitative analysis of visual behavior, such as bending one's fingers. Many people bend their fingers, especially when counting, by bending the thumb first and then the rest of the fingers one by one. We analyzed twenty kinds of bending behavior obtained from 15 of 54 subjects, and identified patterns such as finger-bending in response to being shown a single object or in response to something abstract rather than concrete. These observations suggest that finger bending is not necessarily linked to counting. Our experience indicates that mirvux can be useful for identifying patterns in visual data.