Content Analysis
1 of 8
Content Analysis Guide Department of Media and Communication University of Leicester 2010
DEFINITIONS OF CONTENT ANALYSIS
A research technique for the objective, systematic and quantitative description of the manifest content of communication
Berelson, B. (1952). Content analysis in communication research. Glencoe, Illinois: Free Press.
Any technique for making inferences by systematically identifying specified characteristics of messages
Holsti, O. R. (1969). Content analysis for the social sciences and humanities. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
A research technique for making replicable and valid inferences from texts (or other meaningful matter) to the contexts of their use
Krippendorf, K. (2004). Content analysis: an introduction to its methodology (2nd ed.). London: Sage.
Quantitative content analysis is the systematic and replicable examination of symbols of communication, which have been assigned numeric values according to valid measurement rules and the analysis of relationships involving those values using statistical methods, to describe the communication, draw inferences about its meaning, or infer from the communication to its context, both of production and consumption
Riffe, D., Lacy, S., & Fico, F. (2005). Analyzing Media Messages: Using Quantitative Content Analysis in Research (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
A.Hansen: Content Analysis Guide – University of Leicester - 2010
2 of 8 CONTENT ANALYSIS IN 6 MAIN STEPS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Definition of the research problem Selection of media and sample Defining analytical categories Constructing a coding schedule Piloting the coding schedule and checking reliability Data-preparation and analysis
1. DEFINITION OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM. Develop a clear statement of the aim of the analysis: o What are the objectives? o What kind of information is sought? o How will the data collected provide ‘evidence’ relevant to the main research questions? Identify
Content Analysis Guide Department of Media and Communication University of Leicester 2010
DEFINITIONS OF CONTENT ANALYSIS
A research technique for the objective, systematic and quantitative description of the manifest content of communication
Berelson, B. (1952). Content analysis in communication research. Glencoe, Illinois: Free Press.
Any technique for making inferences by systematically identifying specified characteristics of messages
Holsti, O. R. (1969). Content analysis for the social sciences and humanities. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
A research technique for making replicable and valid inferences from texts (or other meaningful matter) to the contexts of their use
Krippendorf, K. (2004). Content analysis: an introduction to its methodology (2nd ed.). London: Sage.
Quantitative content analysis is the systematic and replicable examination of symbols of communication, which have been assigned numeric values according to valid measurement rules and the analysis of relationships involving those values using statistical methods, to describe the communication, draw inferences about its meaning, or infer from the communication to its context, both of production and consumption
Riffe, D., Lacy, S., & Fico, F. (2005). Analyzing Media Messages: Using Quantitative Content Analysis in Research (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
A.Hansen: Content Analysis Guide – University of Leicester - 2010
2 of 8 CONTENT ANALYSIS IN 6 MAIN STEPS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Definition of the research problem Selection of media and sample Defining analytical categories Constructing a coding schedule Piloting the coding schedule and checking reliability Data-preparation and analysis
1. DEFINITION OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM. Develop a clear statement of the aim of the analysis: o What are the objectives? o What kind of information is sought? o How will the data collected provide ‘evidence’ relevant to the main research questions? Identify