Qualitative Content Analysis

Question 1

What is Qualitative Content Analysis (QualiCA)?

Answer 1

A method for systematically describing the meaning of qualitative data by assigning parts of the material into categories within a coding frame

Question 2

What types of sources can be analysed using QualiCA?

Answer 2

Any kind of written, audio, visual, or social media content. Examples include:
- Written reports (policy memos, legal documents)
- Interview and audio transcriptions
- Public speeches
- Literature (poems, novels)
- Print/online media content
- Social media content
- Emails

Question 3

How does QualiCA differ from Quantitative Content Analysis (QuantiCA)?

Answer 3

QualiCA goes beyond simply counting words (manifest content) like QuantiCA. It focuses on understanding the latent and contextual meaning of the text.

Question 4

What are the three main characteristics of QualiCA?

Answer 4

Systematic: Analysing the entire text material, using a predefined categorization sequence, and verifying categorization through pilot and main phases.
Data Reducing: Focusing on selected aspects of meaning relevant to the research question.
Flexible: Allowing modification of coding categories based on the text material while being guided by latent concepts.

Question 5

List the steps involved in Qualitative Content Analysis.

Answer 5

1. Deciding on a research question.
2. Selecting the material.
3. Building a coding frame.
4. Segmentation.
5. Trial coding.
6. Evaluating and modifying the coding frame.
7. Main analysis.
8. Presenting and interpreting the findings.

Question 6

What is involved in building a coding frame?

Answer 6

Creating categories and subcategories related to the research question.

Ensuring quality control: categories should be unidimensional, mutually exclusive, and exhaustive.

Structuring categories and generating subcategories using concept-driven and data-driven approaches.

Creating and maintaining a codebook with definitions, indicators, examples, and decision rules for each category and subcategory.

Question 7

What is segmentation in QualiCA?

Answer 7

Defining the “unit” of analysis. This can be formal (e.g. word, sentence, paragraph) or thematic. Thematic units are more common in QualiCA.

Question 8

What happens during the trial coding phase?

Answer 8

A sample of the material is selected and coded.

The coding is done by two coders independently or by the same coder at different times.

The consistency of the coding is assessed.

The coding framework is evaluated and modified based on the trial coding results

Question 9

How are the findings in QualiCA presented?

Answer 9

The coding frame is presented and illustrated with quotations from the text.

Quantitative methods like frequency counts or inferential statistics can also be used.