Qualitative Content Analysis
Full course description
This course aims to provide an introduction to applied textual analysis. It trains the systematic and accountable analysis of texts via qualitative research methods such as (policy) frame analysis and qualitative content analysis. This method course aims to demonstrate the rationale, application and limitations of text analysis. The course enlarges the qualitative research toolbox of the RMES students by training them to accomplish a concrete project: throughout this method course the students will develop and conduct a text-analytical study related to the parallel elective research seminar they follow in Period 4.
Course objectives
• have knowledge of the methods for textual analysis referred to as qualitative content analysis and frame analysis;
• be able to apply qualitative content analysis systematically to research questions in the field of European Studies;
• demonstrate the ability to engage in critical discussion of the applicability and limitations of the qualitative content analytic techniques in academic studies;
• have the ability to further develop skills in qualitative content analysis in the remainder of their study, including the MSc thesis.
Prerequisites
RES5014, RES5022
Recommended reading
Selected readings include:
Boréus, K. & Bergström, C. (Eds.) (2017)., Analyzing text and discourse. Eight approaches for the social sciences. SAGE.
Entman, R.M. (1993). Framing. Toward clarification of a fractured paradigm. Journal of Communication, 43(4), 51-58.
Hardy, C., Harley, B., & Phillips, N. (2004). Discourse analysis and content analysis: Two solitudes? Qualitative Methods: Newsletter of the American Political Science Association Organized Section on Qualitative Methods, 2(1), 19-22.
Howarth, D.R. & Torfing, J. (Eeds.). (2005). Discourse theory in European politics: Identity, policy and governance. Palgrave.
Neuendorf, K. (2017). The content analysis guidebook, (2nd ed.), SAGE.