Content analysis

Goals and Types of Content Analysis - Goals of Content Analysis: identifying analyzed data, defining data, determining population, considering context, establishing boundaries, measuring relevant aspects - Qualitative and Quantitative Content Analysis: differences and overlaps between the two approaches - Codebooks: purpose, construction, and importance in content analysis - Computational Tools: advantages and limitations of using computer-based methods in content analysis - Reliability and Validity: importance of consistency and agreement in classification, measurement of inter-coder and intra-coder reliability Kinds of Text - Written text, oral text, iconic text, audio-visual text, hypertexts History and Development - Origins of content analysis in the late 19th century - Early applications of content analysis in studying literature and texts - Contributions of Harold Lasswell and Bernard Berelson to content analysis - Latent and manifest content: differences in interpretation Uses of Content Analysis - Inferences about communication antecedents, characteristics, and effects - Analyzing disputed authorship, individual traits, cultural aspects, legal and evaluative evidence - Describing trends, assessing responses, measuring readability and information flow - Limitations of content analysis when direct measurement techniques are available References and Key Resources - References to books and articles on content analysis methodology and applications - DOCA - Database of Variables for Content Analysis: examples of specific content analysis studies - Key references on automatic content analysis, sentiment analysis, and comparison with human coding - Foundations of Content Analysis: discussions on reliability, validity, and omissions in quantitative research