Chapter 5 - Content Analysis Flashcards
1
Q
What are things to consider regarding research questions?
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A
- must be clearly specified before analysis
- decide which dimensions of texts to quantify
- how many different views to be presented?
- what selected for inclusion? (omissions)
- amount of coverage change over time?
2
Q
What is the progressive narrowing down in terms of sampling media?
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A
- which types of text? (printed or visual? mass media?)
- if mass media, which kind? (TV, radio,,,, more than one?)
- for each tyoe of text, which examples? (e.g. newspapers or broadsheet?)
3
Q
What can be said regarding sampling dates?
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A
- predeterminating starting dates by historical event (e.g. enron case)
- more open: if study = ongoing, general phenomen
- end dates: matter of judgement
- principles of probability sampling
4
Q
What is the coding schedule?
What are sets of instricutons for coders?
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A
- ## a tabular form onto which coded data will be entred
- lists with possible categories for each dimension
- shows which codes/ number refer to which category
- explains what do to if more than one code applies
- starting point: existing content analysis dictionary
5
Q
What are potential pitfalls in coding?
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What should be made sure?
A
- it has to have discrete dimensions
- has to have mutually exclusive categories
- must have exhaustive (gründlich) categories
- ## must have clear instrictions to coders
- pilot study to make sure of consistency between coders and consistency over time fior each coder (inter-coder reliability and intra-coder reliability)
6
Q
What are advantages of content analysis?
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A
- transparency
- ease of longitudinal analysis
- unobtrusiveness
- flexibility
- ease of access
7
Q
What are disadvantages of content analysis?
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A
- is it authentic? and credible? is it representative of documents?
- interpretation by coders
- inability to answer “why”? questions
- possibly very theoretical approach?
