This book is a practical, hands-on guide to using commonly available everyday technology, including Microsoft software, to manage and streamline research projects. It uses straight-forward, everyday language to walk readers through this process, drawing on a wide range of examples to demonstrate how easy it is to use such software. This guide is full of useful hints and tips on how to manage research more efficiently and effectively, including: (1) formatting transcripts for maximum coding efficiency in Microsoft Word; (2) using features of Word to organize the analysis of data and to facilitate efficient qualitative coding; (3) efficiently storing and analyzing qualitative data in Access or Excel to develop categories, themes, and important concepts; (4) creating flexible analytic memos that help lead the researcher to final conclusions and enrich the written report; (5) utilizing inexpensive and easy-to-obtain tools to collect data and manage research projects. This guide is ideal for those students or researchers who don't want to invest in expensive specialized software packages and who are looking for a result that is more tailored to their individual needs. It will be an invaluable companion for anyone embarking on their own research project. Contents include: (1) Introduction, Coding Terminology, and the Big Picture; (2) Getting Started: Planning Your Qualitative Research Project; (3) Organizing and Controlling Your Research; (4) Backup Your Data; (5) Collecting Your Data; (7) Level 1 Coding; (8) Level 2 Coding Using Access; (9) Level 2 Coding Using Excel; (10) Level 3 and Level 4 (Theoretical Concepts) Coding; and (11) Writing the Report: The Final Draft.