content analysis evaluation

Question 1

what is an evaluation of case studies

Answer 1

1. case studies are able to offer RICH, DETAILED INSIGHTS that may shed light on very unusual and atypical forms of behaviour
   - this may be preferred to the more “superficial” forms of data that might be collected from e.g. an experiment or questionnaire

Question 2

what is another strength of case studies

Answer 2

1. case studies may contribute to our understanding of “normal”functioning e.g. the the case or HM was significant as it demonstrated “normal memory” processing 0 the existence of separate stores in STM and LTM
2. Case studies may generate hypotheses for future study and one solidarity contradictory instance may lead to the revision of an entire theory

Question 3

what are the limitations of of case studies

Answer 3

1. generalisation of findings is an issue when dealing with such small sizes
2. the info that make it into the final report is based on the subjective selection and interpretation of the researcher
   - to add to this the fact that personal accounts from the participants and their family and friends may be prone to inaccuracy and memory decay, especially if childhood stories are being told

This means that the evidence from case studies begins to look more than a little low n validity

Question 4

what is the strength of content analysis

Answer 4

1. content analysis is useful in that it can circumnavigate (a posh word for “get around”) many of the ethical issues normally associated with psychological research much of the material that an analyst might want to study, e.g. TV ads, films e.t.c may already exist within the public domain

Therefore their are no issues with obtaining permission

communication of a more “dubious” and “sensitive nature”, e.g. text, still had the benefit of being high external validity, provided the “authors” consent to use

Question 5

what is another strength of content analysis

Answer 5

content analysis also is flexible in the sense that it may produce both qualitative and quantitative data depending on the aims of the research

Question 6

what is the limitations of content analysis

Answer 6

1. people tend to be studied indirectly ass part of content analysis so the communication they produce is usually analysed outside of the context within which it occurred

There is a danger that the researcher may attribute opinions and motivations to the speaker o writer ( similar too case studies) that were not intended originally

HOWEVER, many modern analysts are clear about their own biases and preconceptions influence the research process and often make reference to these as part of their final report

Question 7

what is another limitation of content anlaysis

Answer 7

content analysis still suffers for a lack ob objectivity, especially when more descriptive forms of thematic analysis are employed