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When you run a Text Search query or Word Frequency query, you can set the Finding matches slider to search for exact matches, or search for similar words or concepts.
By default the slider is positioned at the left, and returns exact matches only. As you move the slider to the right, you include more types of similar words. There are five levels:
| Level | Returns | Example (sport) |
| 1 | Exact matches only | sport |
| 2 | Exact matches Words with the same stem |
sport, sporting |
| 3 | Exact matches Words with same stem Synonyms (words with a very close meaning) |
sport, sporting, play, fun |
| 4 | Exact matches Words with same stem Synonyms (words with a very close meaning) Specializations (words with a more specialized meaning) |
sport, sporting, play, fun, running, basketball |
| 5 | Exact matches Words with same stem Synonyms (words with a very close meaning) Specializations (words with a more specialized meaning—a 'type of') Generalizations (words with a more general meaning) |
sport, sporting, play, fun, running, basketball, recreation, business |
NOTE If the text search language for your project is Chinese or Japanese, then 'Including stemmed words' on the Finding matches slider will generate the same results as 'Exact match only'. You can still find synonyms, specializations, and generalizations for words in Chinese or Japanese.
If the Text search language for your project is set to 'None', the Finding matches slider is not available. The Text Search query will find exact matches only and the Word Frequency query counts each word separately.
Where possible, the Text search language should be set to match the language used in your source materials. Refer to Set the text search language and stop words for more information.
If you set the Finding matches slider to find similar words including specializations and generalizations, you may get results that you do not expect.
A word can have several different meanings. For example, in English the word row, has many meanings, including:
(Noun) An argument
(Verb) To propel a boat using oars
(Noun) A number of objects arranged in a line
When NVivo looks for synonyms, it will find synonyms for all possible meanings of the word. So, using the example row, it may return the words fight, quarrel, paddle, and line.
If you extend the search to include specializations and generalizations, NVivo will find specializations and generalizations for all possible meanings. So, using the example row, it might return the words conflict, sport, athletics, table, array, course, damp course, wall, layer, bed, terrace.
If you are having difficulty understanding why certain words appear in the search results, it may be helpful to check the meaning of your search term in a dictionary. If the word has multiple meanings, it will have more synonyms, specializations, and generalizations.
