Quantitative Content Analysis Research Articles

What does it mean to “do your own research?” A comparative content analysis of DYOR messages in Instagram and Facebook posts about reproductive health, food, and vaccines

Calls to “do your own research” (DYOR) on social media promote a range of claims, from expert-recommended treatments to conspiracy theories. Exploring how the slogan is used offers insight into how individuals navigate concerns about information accuracy in an abundant but low-trust media ecosystem. This quantitative content analysis investigates how DYOR messages in Facebook and Instagram posts about reproductive health, food and diet, and vaccination are used to raise alarms, promote personal agency, and disclaim responsibility. We additionally examine how DYOR messages are associated with content including risk information and product promotion. While DYOR messages sometimes raise alarms about suspected conspiracies and misinformation, more often they advocate for personal agency and education, encouraging people to become as informed as possible to make the best decisions for themselves. In this way, DYOR messages promote individual responsibility for navigating information risks and reflect wider concerns about (mis-)information and distrust of institutions.

Application of Content Analysis in Research of Political Discourse

Content analysis is one of the most frequently applied methods for the research of various forms of discourse, including political discourse. As a research technique, it was developed in studies on communication and is now frequently used in linguistics, for example, in text analysis, systematic studies of written text or transcribed speech, as well as in research on nontextual message content. The following article deals with the application of content analysis in research into political discourse and discusses the crucial concepts of the research method. Specifically, it describes the manifest and latent content of political texts and presents two notions particularly useful in the evaluation of content analysis, i.e., ‘reliability’ and ‘validity.’ Additionally, two broad approaches to content analysis are discussed. The first is qualitative content analysis, and the second is quantitative content analysis.

The devil‐angel shift in times of crisis: How Swiss scientists used policy narratives during the COVID‐19 pandemic

AbstractThis paper studies how scientists participated in policy debates during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Switzerland not only by telling facts but also by telling stories. It combines insights from Narrative Policy Framework and science communication literature with a conceptualization of scientific advice to study how scientists used narratives and the devil‐angel shift narrative strategy to communicate about policies and problems. Quantitative content analysis of Swiss newspaper articles shows that in statements with problem advice scientists use more narratives than in statements with policy advice and that the devil‐angel shift score for problem advice is significantly lower for narratives with problem advice. Overall, the research shows that problem advice is a good predictor for the use of the devil shift. However, when scientists used narratives with policy advice, they often followed a negative narrative strategy that also highlights problems.

The #TrustedInfo2022 dataset: States’ trust-building social media campaigns during the 2022 election cycle

Abstract We introduce a dynamic dataset of all communications by state election officials (EOs) on social media during the 2022 election cycle and develop metrics to assess the effectiveness of trust-building strategies on voter confidence. We employ quantitative manual content analysis of 10,000 organic posts from 118 state EOs’ accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter between September 10 and November 30, 2022, and code for the presence of variables that measure EOs’ efforts to combat misinformation and build trusted networks of communications. The measures we present here address two questions: (1) How much coordination was there among states in terms of incorporating the #TrustedInfo2022 campaign, promoted by the National Association of Secretaries of State, in their social media communications, and (2) How much of states’ social media communications explicitly signaled that EOs are trusted sources of information? We demonstrate the applicability of our data on research that evaluates the impact of trust-building campaigns on voter confidence in elections, which is grounded on theories of deliberative democracy and democratic listening.

Factors Influencing AI Learning Motivation and Personalisation Among Pre-service Teachers in Higher Education

This study examines the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, focusing on motivating pre-service teachers to utilise AI technologies. The research assesses factors influencing their motivation for AI learning and personalisation in higher education. Over 14 weeks, 180 pre-service teachers participated in a qualitative case study with quantitative content analysis. Results indicate a positive attitude towards AI use among these future educators. The study concludes that AI-enhanced learning can significantly improve teacher-student interactions through personalised feedback, learning guidance and collaborative experiences across various platforms. Findings suggest AI has the potential to enhance personalised learning by tailoring content to individual student needs, preferences and learning styles. Educational policies should encourage a balanced approach to AI implementation, recognising its benefits whilst maintaining human interaction. Although AI may reduce face-to-face engagement, striking a balance where it supports rather than replaces human interaction can strengthen teacher-student relationships. By providing detailed insights into students’ progress and challenges, AI can help teachers offer more targeted support and encouragement.

Effect of the National Enhanced Service for weight management on the content of annual review consultations for patients living with obesity and hypertension and/or diabetes.

Guidelines specify that clinicians should support patients living with obesity by referring to weight management programmes (WMPs), but clinicians do so infrequently. To provide additional support to patients living with obesity and weight-related conditions, the UK government instated the National Enhanced Service (NES) for weight management in England, including a reimbursement to general practices for referring eligible patients to WMPs. To assess the impact of the NES on conversations regarding weight and relevant behavioural risk factors in primary care consultations we recruited 11 medical practices in England where the NES was operating and six comparator practices from Scotland and Wales where the NES was not implemented. Clinicians audio-recorded annual review appointments of patients living with obesity and hypertension and/or diabetes. The content of these consultations was synthesised using quantitative content analysis. Consultations with 92 patients were analysed: 58 in England and 34 in Scotland and Wales. No difference was found between the NES sites (England) and non-NES sites (Scotland and Wales) in the proportion of referrals made to WMPs. Clinicians in England weighed patients and took other body measurements more often, mentioned body mass index more often, and had more detailed discussions about patients' diets, but there was no evidence that they differed in their discussion of WMPs or other modifiable risk factors. We found no strong evidence that the NES affected how clinicians addressed weight management or related behavioural risk factors within annual review consultations for patients living with obesity and hypertension and/or diabetes.

How to monitor local objectives for urban climate change adaptation? Insights from quantitative content analysis of selected participatory budgets in the upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis

Subsequent analyses of participatory budgeting in Poland emphasise the popularity of environmental issues such as greenery, air quality, and sustainable transport, which should also support objectives in urban climate change adaptation (UCCA). An increasing number of adaptation projects within local standards or ‘green’ civic budgets are often listed among the indicators in urban adaptation plans for Polish cities. However, available research studies and urban evaluation reports show that monitoring participatory budgets poses a methodological challenge. Therefore, the aim of the article is twofold. First, it proposes a method of identifying overlaps of urban climate change adaptation objectives with descriptions of projects submitted to local participatory budgets of the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis. For this purpose, a dictionary-based text analysis of project descriptions was performed and critically examined. The second aim was to identify trends in urban climate change adaptation objectives. Thus, the quantitative distribution of coded descriptions was evaluated to investigate how subsequent types of participatory budgets (editions, green vs. standard, implemented vs. non-implemented) differed. The results demonstrate that the available database of participatory budget projects is a rich source of information on local preferences towards issues related to UCCA. To strengthen the objectives of urban climate change adaptation, city administrations can consider additional tools, such as UCCA-related tips/inspiration and targeted calls for projects, as well as supplementing participatory budgets with other deliberative methods. However, collecting precise and calculable data on this topic based on participatory budget databases requires both methodological adjustments and careful validation.

The prevalence of wordings on Adverse Childhood Experiences in child welfare assessments in a sample of young people in secure institutional care

ABSTRACT In Sweden, young people with behaviours considered norm-breaking and destructive by society are placed in secure institutional care. While these young people’s behaviour is frequently debated, there is little knowledge about their family and home conditions. This study aims to identify writings (i.e. wordings, sentences, etc.) referring to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in child welfare assessments of a sample (n = 84) of young people placed in secure institutional care. The documentation was analysed by applying manifest quantitative content analysis using ACEs established in previous research as deductive categories. In addition, wordings related to the legal grounds for placement were also identified. The analysis shows that the burden of child abuse and household dysfunction is large in the sample. Compared to population-based prevalence studies, the current study presents much higher numbers, with almost 90% of the cases containing writings with reference to at least one ACE category and 38–50% referring to four or more. The findings constitute an important contribution to research on young people in secure care, by adding knowledge about adversity during childhood as a crucial part of these young people’s needs and challenges.

Understanding We Can Do This COVID-19 vaccine campaign elements through message frames and emotional appeals

This study looks into the message frames, emotional appeals, and approaches used in the We Can Do This COVID-19 vaccine campaign by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). A quantitative content analysis of 145 audio-visual campaign elements was guided by framing theory. Results indicate that the campaign messages primarily focused on vaccine benefits and used an informational approach to messaging. Consistent use of hope is observed alongside frames, such as vaccine information, facts and findings, and preventive measures. The moral obligation frame uses a more negative appeal (i.e., guilt) across the campaign elements. Additionally, while informational messages incorporate a more fear appeal, sadness, guilt, and hope remain the consistent emotional appeals in the transformational message approach. The findings of this study can serve as a valuable resource for the U.S. Government authorities and other healthcare experts in the implementation of comparable vaccination campaigns.

ASSESSMENT OF TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT (TPC), TOTAL FLAVONOID CONTENT (TFC) AND ANTIDIARRHEAL AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF DIOSCOREA BULBIFERA TUBER EXTRACT

Objective: This study aims to conduct a comprehensive phytochemical screening of the tuber of Dioscorea bulbifera extract, evaluate its antioxidant capacity, and assess its anti-diarrheal activity. Methods: In this research, we reported the phytochemical screening, antidiarrheal and antioxidant activity of methanol, acetone, and dichloromethane (DCM) extracts. The qualitative phytochemical assessment of the bioactive extracts of the tuber of Dioscorea bulbifera was done. Quantitative analysis of total phenolic contents (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) were also determined. The scavenging activity of D. bulbifera was determined by DPPH assay. The antidiarrheal activity was experimented by the castor oil-induced diarrhea method. Results: TPC of Acetone, Methanol & DCM extract of D. bulbifera was 537.2, 352.7, and 79.12 μgGAE/ml, respectively, and TFC of those extracts were 2.96, 1.08, and 0.35 mgQE/g, respectively. The Acetone extract of D. bulbifera (IC50 27.99 μg/ml) showed the highest antioxidant activity. Antidiarrheal properties of the three extracts were tested at 150 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg per body weight (bw) in mice. The methanol and DCM extracts showed an important antidiarrheal activity by curbing 69.56% and 86.95% of diarrheal faces at the doses of 600 and 300 mg/kg/bw, respectively. Conclusion: Since the current study implies that the plant extracts gave significant results for Antidiarrheal, Antioxidant, and Phytochemical analysis, the tuber of D. bulbifera may contain therapeutic potential compounds, such as flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, tannins, and saponins. These results moderate more investigation for the potential discovery of new natural bioactive compounds from this medicinal plant.

#TraumaTok-TikTok Videos Relating to Trauma: Content Analysis.

Experiencing a traumatic event can significantly impact mental and emotional well-being. Social media platforms offer spaces for sharing stories, seeking support, and accessing psychoeducation. TikTok (ByteDance), a rapidly growing social media platform, is increasingly used for advice, validation, and information, although the content of this requires further study. Research is particularly needed to better understand TikTok content relating to trauma and the potential implications for young viewers, considering the distressing nature of the subject and the possibility of users experiencing vicarious trauma through exposure to these videos. This study aims to explore the content of trauma-related videos on TikTok, focusing on hashtags related to trauma. Specifically, this study analyzes how TikTok videos present information, advice, stories, and support relating to trauma. A quantitative cross-sectional descriptive content analysis was performed on TikTok in December 2022. A total of 5 hashtags related to trauma were selected: #trauma, #traumatized, #traumatok, #traumatic, and #traumabond, with the top 50 videos from each hashtag analyzed (total N=250 videos). A standardized codebook was developed inductively to analyze the content of the videos, while an existing generic codebook was used to collect the video features (eg, age of people in the video) and metadata (likes, comments, and shares) for each video. A total of 2 major content themes were identified, which were instructional videos (54/250, 21.6%) and videos disclosing personal stories (168/250, 67.3%). The videos garnered significant engagement, with a total of 296.6 million likes, 2.3 million comments, and 4.6 million shares, indicating that users find this content engaging and useful. Alarmingly, only 3.7% (9/250) of videos included a trigger warning, despite many featuring highly distressing stories that young people and those with trauma may be exposed to. The study highlights the potential risks of vicarious trauma due to trauma dumping without trigger warnings on TikTok, and the need for further research to assess the accuracy of advice and information in these videos. However, it also underscores the platform's potential to foster social connections, provide validation, and reduce stigma around mental health issues. Public health professionals should leverage social media to disseminate accurate mental health information, while promoting user education and content moderation to mitigate potential harms. People often use social media, such as TikTok to share advice, stories, and support around mental health, including their experiences with trauma. Out of 250 videos, most were either giving advice (54/250, 21.6%) or sharing personal experiences (168/250, 67.3%). The study found many videos lacked warnings about upsetting content, which could potentially harm young viewers or people suffering from trauma. While TikTok can help people feel connected and reduce the stigma around mental health, it is important to seek support from professionals when needed.

Exploring influential components and indicators in hospital resilience assessment: a scoping review protocol

IntroductionHospitals are vital infrastructures that provide health services during emergencies and disasters. However, in recent years, disasters have led to hospital losses and interruptions in medical services. Consequently, the concept of resilience has garnered significant attention. Despite extensive research, the lack of clarity in explaining hospital resilience poses challenges in effective assessment and identifying key priorities for enhancing disaster risk management. Recently, the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) introduced a conceptual framework for the conceptualisation of hospital resilience, defining it through six interconnected components and four resilience capacities. Identifying specific indicators and characteristics for hospital resilience components based on the EMRO framework. This protocol outlines the method for conducting a scoping review to identify such indicators and characteristics to develop a comprehensive hospital resilience assessment tool.Methods and analysisThis scoping review will adhere to the six-step protocol proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. It aims to comprehensively understand current knowledge about resilient hospital characteristics and identify effective components and indicators for assessing hospital resilience. The review will encompass available articles indexed in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. Additionally, searches will explore the grey literature on Google Scholar, the WHO’s website and regional offices. There will be no publication date restrictions applied to the search. Quantitative and qualitative content analyses will assess and categorise the study results. Our protocol was drafted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Protocols extension for scoping reviews.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol describes a scoping review within a doctoral thesis focused on health in emergencies and disasters, specifically hospital resilience. The study, associated with ethics code number (IR.USWR.REC.1402.120), aims to develop a comprehensive assessment tool for hospital resilience. Once peer-reviewed and published, the findings will inform experts, policymakers and relevant organisations in emergency and disaster management.

Barriers and enablers to nurse-initiated care in emergency departments: An embedded mixed methods survey study

BackgroundIncreased demand, wait times and length of stay have seen many emergency departments implement nurse-initiated protocols In New South Wales, Australia, 74 nurse-initiated protocols have been developed for implementation. The aim of this paper is to identify the barriers and enablers to nurses’ use of these protocols to inform and maximise future implementation. MethodsData were collected via surveys informed by the theoretical domains' framework and the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI). Descriptive statistics summarised quantitative data and content analysis was performed on qualitative data. Results were integrated and classified as barriers or enablers to nurses’ use of protocols. ResultsThe nurses’ response rate was 82 % (n = 76) and doctors 72 % (n = 34) Six categories were generated; one barrier (lack of resources), three enablers (patient and organisational benefits, nurses’ motivation, nurses’ desire to develop their practice) and two were both a barrier and enabler ( nurse confidence and the work environment). ConclusionEmergency nurses are highly motivated to use nurse-initiated protocols to positively impact patient outcomes. However, a lack of resources, time, access to education and confidence are barriers to use that need to be addressed when designing implementation.

Conceptualisation of culture and research methods in studies of language teaching materials: a systematic review

ABSTRACT The critical role of language teaching materials in developing intercultural citizenship has led to increased research on cultural representations within them. It has become necessary to critically review how culture has been conceptualised and the ways in which cultural representations have been methodologically approached in this growing body of research. Applying a qualitative synthesis approach, this systematic review synthesises and critiques current studies on cultural representations in language teaching materials published since 2013, focusing on how culture was conceptualised in these studies and how cultural representations were examined methodologically. Analysis of the reviewed studies reveals that existing research conceptualises culture as a multifaceted construct encompassing quantifiable objects, socially-constructed meaning, and dynamic meaning-making processes. These conceptualizations necessitate the use of diverse methods to explore cultural representations in language teaching materials. The analysis further identifies that quantitative content analysis was the method most commonly used in the reviewed literature, followed by methods associated with critical perspectives and social semiotics approaches. These findings have important implications for future research and practice relating to cultural representations in language teaching materials.

LAIKO JUOSTOS UŽDUOČIŲ TAIKYMAS MOKANT SUPRASTI ISTORINĮ LAIKĄ PRADINĖS MOKYKLOS TREČIOJE KLASĖJE

School history content in recent years has been shifting away from the "grand" story of history towards historical literacy, based on critical thinking and historical research skills. This encourages the explora-tion of the possibilities of developing these skills from primary school onwards, using a variety of ac-tive learning methods in social education classes. The aim of the study was to determine whether the targeted use of timeline tasks in the educational process can improve the historical time comprehension skills of third grade pupils in Lithuanian primary schools. The focus of the study was the use of timeline tasks in the understanding of historical time. The aim of the study was to explore the changes in the historical time comprehension skills of 3rd grade pupils in a primary school when timeline tasks are purposefully applied in the educational process. An action re-search study was carried out, 16 educational activities were organized in two primary school third grade classes. In one classroom, 8 activities involved the purposeful use of timeline tasks. Students' historical time comprehension skills in the category of timeline application were assessed through quantitative and qualitative content analysis of the questionnaires completed by students. It was found that before the educational activities, some of the pupils in grade 3 had not reached the level of devel-oping understanding of historical time at level A in the category of application of the timeline. A com-parative analysis of the data after the educational activities showed that the pupils in Class X who worked on the timeline tasks during the educational activities achieved higher results than their peers in Class Y who did not work on the timeline tasks during the educational activities. The results of the study suggest that the use of timeline activities in history learning enables students to better orient themselves in historical time and to achieve higher learning outcomes. Keywords: understanding historical time, timeline application, primary education, action research

Images of the Israel-Gaza War on Instagram: A Content Analysis of Western Broadcast News Posts

This quantitative content analysis examined how popular Western broadcast news channels—BBC News, CNN, Fox News, Sky News, and MSNBC—used Instagram (IG) to cover the initial phase of the fifth Israel–Gaza war of the 21st century, which began on October 7, 2023. The research was undergirded by framing theory and the victim/defensive mode of reporting model. Overall, findings suggest that Western broadcast IG reporting was decidedly pro-Israel. Studied outlets consistently favored Israeli and pro-Israeli sources over Palestinian and pro-Palestinian sources; highlighted Israeli victims while neglecting Palestinian victims; and framed Israeli violence as self-defense while framing Palestinian violence as aggression.

Game On: A Journey into Computational Thinking with Modern Board Games in Portuguese Primary Education

Recent studies highlight the potential of modern board games (MBGs) to foster computational thinking (CT) skills in students. This research explored the impact of integrating MBGs into a primary education classroom through an embedded concurrent mixed-methods approach, with a pre-experimental design in its quantitative aspect and content analysis in its qualitative dimension, with 20 fourth-grade students from a school in Portugal. The students participated in 10 game sessions, each lasting 50 min, and their CT skills were assessed using Bebras tasks in both the pre-test and post-test phases. Statistical analysis, including the Shapiro–Wilk test for normality and paired sample t-tests, revealed significant improvements in key CT areas, particularly abstraction, algorithmic thinking, and decomposition. Descriptive statistics were also calculated, and content analysis using Nvivo software was conducted on field notes, corroborating the quantitative data. The results suggest that MBGs can serve as a valuable educational tool for developing CT skills in young learners. This study not only highlights the effectiveness of MBGs but also emphasises the need for further research using more robust experimental designs to enhance CT development in educational settings.

Coping with Unknown Health Crisis via Social Media: A Content Analysis of Online Mutual Aid Group in the Beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The initial emergence of SARS-CoV-2 created uncertainty for humanity, driving people to seek assistance on social media. This study aims to understand the role of social media in coping with crises and to offer guidance for future uncertainties by examining the experiences of Wuhan during the early stages of the pandemic. Using quantitative content analysis, this study investigated 2207 Weibo posts tagged with "COVID-19 Mutual Aid" from individuals located in Wuhan during the early lockdown period from January 23, 2020, to March 23, 2020. At the start of pandemic, messages seeking tangible support were most common. A hurdle regression model showed that deeper self-disclosure led to more retransmission of help-seeking messages. The Chi-Square and Mann-Whitney U tests revealed that health professionals and laypeople had different self-disclosure strategies. This study provides insight into the online social support exchange during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan, highlighting the importance of self-disclosure on message retransmission, and the differences in self-disclosure strategies between health professionals and laypeople in online help-seeking.

Escaping the midway trap: A mixed method study highlighting roadblocks and coping mechanisms of female researchers in Cameroon.

Across the world, women make most of the health workforce, but remain underrepresented in academia. This is even worst in Sub-Saharan Africa where women are the least represented as first and last authors in publications, especially in francophone countries. However, there is a lack of data on the reason explaining this inequity. Therefore, we sought to describe challenges which hinder the growth of Cameroonian female researchers and conducted a mixed method study over one year from January 2020 to December 2020. We included Cameroonian female researchers in health. For the quantitative arm, data was collected through an online google questionnaire. In-depth interviews were organized for the qualitative arm. Data was analyzed using python software version 21 for the quantitative arm and content analysis was performed for qualitative data. A total of 119 participants were included in this study. Most participants were aged between 25 and 35 years (72%) and they were Christians (94%). The majority had at least a PhD degree (29.6%) and they came from the West region of Cameroon (34.2%) the Northern regions were grossly underrepresented. More than half of our participants faced issues with balancing career, work, and academia and this is linked to culture. Socioeconomic, sociocultural, institutional, and environmental roadblocks hinder the progress and research productivity of most female researchers. The burden of unpaid maternity leaves, and sexual harassment remains high for most women. The use of English language as lingua Franca is perceived as another barrier for one on two women. However, there are coping strategies adopted by female scientists including the development of soft skills such as self-confidence, determination, and hard work. Extrinsic factors such as global policy, international partnerships, workshops, mentorship, and networking are also supporting women in global health. Gender-based interventions are critical to support women in escaping the midway trap.

Metal–organic framework-based SERS chips enable in situ and sensitive detection of dissolved hydrogen sulfide in natural water: Towards a bring-back-chip mode for field analysis

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in natural water plays an important role in carbon and sulfur cycles in biosphere. Current detection protocol is complicated, which need to “bring back water” to lab followed by gas chromatograph analysis. In situ, field detection is still challenging. Herein, a portable, sensitive surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) chip was proposed for in situ H2S sampling and SERS signal stabilizing, enabling a “bring back chip” manner for lab analysis. The SERS chip was composed of single core-shell gold nanorod-ZIF-8 framework (Au NR@ZIF-8) nanoparticle. Relying on headspace adsorption, evaporated H2S was enriched in the ZIF-8 shell and then reacted with Au NR, resulting in the weakening of the Au-Br bond Raman peak (175 cm−1) and the appearance of the Au-S bond Raman peak (273 cm−1). The SERS signal reached equilibrium in 10 min. The detection range of H2S was 0.1–2000 μg/L and limit of detection was 0.098 μg/L. SERS signal was not interfered by normal volatile gases. Moreover, SERS signal of a reacted chip was stable at an ambient condition, allowing for in situ sampling and bring-back detection. The applicability of the chip was verified by dynamic H2S monitoring during artificial black-odor water evolution, and in-field quantitative analysis of H2S content in river water and sediment. Finally, the chip was sealed in a waterproof breathable membrane device, which realized the detection of vertical profiles of H2S in the river. This work provided a promising tool for field analysis of H2S in natural environments.