Analyzing Media Messages: Using Quantitative Content Analysis in Research

by Daniel Riffe, Stephen Lacy, Frederick Fico

This is the first complete text on quantitative content analysis since Krippendorf's Content Analysis (1981). Analyzing Media Messages incorporates content analysis research since 1981, including a series of sampling studies conducted by the authors. As it has evolved, the field of communication research has seen a variety of theoretical perspectives that influence how scholars define research questions and the methods they use to answer those questions. The focus of their research has often been communication content. Scholars have examined content because it is often assumed to be the cause of particular effects, and because it reflects the antecedent context or process of its production. Content analysis has been used in mass communication and in other fields to describe content and to test theory-derived hypotheses. The variety of applications may be limited only by the analyst's imagination, theory, and resources, as is shown in examples throughout this book.

Rich with examples of recent and classic applications, this volume is designed to serve as a primer in the technique of systematic, quantitative analysis of communication content. It explains solutions to practical problems confronted by the content analysts, and also examines the role of computers in content analysis. The text is written so that students can readily understand and apply this method.

Genres: Academic, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Sam Hacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

comprehensive exam prep
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i an cursed with knowledge on how to make a quantitative content analysis. intercoder reliability? you will always be famous to me.

[Renjith R · Rating 4 out of 5]

ACADEMIC READING - RESEARCH

Some precise observations regarding the Content analysis method in Communication Research. I have enjoyed reading this book as most of the ideas established here accompanied by simple examples. Good book for academic reading.

[Michelle Boyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be an extremely informative text for those interested in using quantitative content analysis in their studies and potential research. As a methodology, content analysis is often mentioned but seldom is a young researcher provided with a clear definition of what "quantitative content analysis" is--and if you are able to get a definition, you're often not given insight on how to go about constructing this type of research. What minimal steps are needed? How can you, or should you, record your data? Are there different variables you need to be aware of? This text helps to start answering a lot of these questions.

I really appreciated the use of examples throughout the text. When the text discusses different types of modes, content, etc., they usually include a small example to help you understand how these concepts are used in different research applications. There are several charts, graphs, tables, etc., present throughout the book to give you visual examples.

If you're interested in quantitative content analysis, but you're not necessarily sure how to set up a study or what is needed in a study (kind of the stage I was at when I grabbed this book--I had an idea, but didn't know what to do with my idea next), then I recommend grabbing this book to help untangle some of the questions you might have.

Keep in mind: the chapter at the end about computers is about a decade outdated, but it still gives you an idea of how different computer programs could be used to collect data. While the software they discuss is outdated, the ideas aren't necessarily outdated.

[Jens Kuppers · Rating 2 out of 5]

not biased