Content Analysis

Abstract

This article begins by describing contingency analysis as a method used by classical content analysts in the 1950s and 1960s for the statistical analysis of theme occurrences in texts and transcripts. Out of this description emerges a discussion of the distinction between classical analysts' instrumental text analysis methods (in which texts are interpreted according to the researcher's perspective) and representational text analysis methods (in which the texts' sources' interpretations are used). Classical analysts' thematic text analysis (or word-count) approach is then contrasted with more recently developed semantic text analysis and network text analysis methods. In every quantitative text analysis a data matrix can be generated only after one has determined the unit of analysis, the contextual variables, and the thematic, semantic, and/or network text analysis method(s) most appropriate to one's research question. A summary sketch is then given of the domain of substantive research questions that can be addressed using data derived from a quantitative text analysis.