Content analysis, case studies and correlations

Content analysis

Research method/technique for converting qualitative data into quantitative data using coding units and categories

Stages of content anaylsis

1) sampling data collection

2) pilot - familiarise themselves with the content (read it)

3) identify coding units - researcher will then analyse the data applying the coding units

4) applying coding units - tally up number of times each code has occurred

5) tally - compare with other/previous data

Strengths of content analysis

Strength - quantitaive data

Strength - better ethics, material is already public

Strength - reliable as coding units are operationalised

Weaknesses of content analysis

Weakness - subjective

Weakness - lacks valdiity, turns qualitative data into numerical data

Case study

In depth study that gathers lots of data about one person or a small group, data is gathered from a variety of sources using several different methods

Triangulation

Using multiple methods of data collection

Methods involved in a case study

Interviews, questionnaires, experiments, observations, secondary data and case histories

Strengths of a case study

Strength - rich and detailed qualitative data

Strength - ecological validity, can apply to real world situations

Strength - triangulation, allows you double check findings

Weaknesses of a case study

Weakness - subjective, has observer bias

Weakness - lacks generalisability to other countries and cultures (culture bound)

Weakness - time consuming (longitudinal piece of research), however it does allow you to examine change over time