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COMS2004A- Content Analysis Planning Assignment - Objectives: Further developing your own research plans about the COMS research topic you have been developing in your last assignments

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COMS2004A- Content Analysis Planning Assignment -

Objectives: Further developing your own research plans about the COMS research topic you have been developing in your last assignments. It is up to you how you want to approach the broad topic and narrow it. You may narrow your topic differently than in previous assignments. For this work, you will be planning how to conduct future research using the quantitative content analysis method.

The assignment asks you to communicate: The research problem (Hansen & Machin, 2013) and two RQs; the media content and sample you will analyze in future research, the preliminary analytical categories you would use to begin coding content, and the coding form or schedule you would use to begin coding content. These steps are outlined by Hansen & Machin (2013, pp. 85-107) and covered in the week nine lecture (Hiltz, 2022). 

INSTRUCTIONS: Using the paper template, answer the q’s below in full sentences. You may use first person (e.g., ‘I’). Please double-space your answers and reference sources in-text and in a reference list, using APA style. Instructions about which sources should be consulted and referenced in your answers is supplied below, along with approximate answer lengths. A reminder the response length per question is a guide.

 

Questions to answer (pp. 1-2):

1) Defining the research problem and research questions: As Hansen & Machin discuss, please describe the research problem you are seeking to answer or discover through the proposed content analysis of a sample of media texts related to your topic. “What aspect of communication, media roles, social phenomena, [and/or] textual characteristics does the research aim to shed light on?” (Hansen & Machin, 2013, p. 92). Please answer: What is the objective of your content analysis? What do you hope to know more about by analyzing media content? A reminder here that your objectives should be connected to the aims of quantitative research and content analysis, such as understanding the characteristics, frequency and/or effects of media messages.

 

After you have discussed the research problem, please share two research questions that you would use to help guide the quantitative content analysis. It should be clear with both questions that the objective is to collect quantitative data.

~ length of this answer: 250-400 words (+/- 100 words).

 

2) Selecting media content: Media type or genre, and time period: Define the media content that will be analyzed in your future content analysis. Using Hansen & Machin’s guidance on selecting media texts by type and time period (pp. 93-98), tell your reader the type of media or media genre that is the primary focus for your content analysis, given the research problem and questions. Also specify the time period for the media content that could be selected for analysis. Remember that in content analysis, media content is treated as a text to be ‘read’ and coded by the researcher. See lecture 9 content for this and please review these recommended pages from Hansen & Machin.

 

~approximate length of answer: 300-400 words (+/- 100 words).

 

>>see next page for q. 3 details!

 

 

3) Defining analytical categories and creating a coding sheet: Now that the content is defined, what characteristics about the media content will be analyzed in the future research? Please describe the specific types of categories that you anticipate using in your content analysis on the given topic. Here please consider possible types of analytical categories discussed by Hansen & Machin (pp. 98-107): The attributes of actors or sources; themes, topics or issues; vocabulary choices; values or stance.

 

Once you have determined your analytical categories, develop a coding sheet that you would use for coding media content in the future. Please see the examples supplied in the week 9 module on Brightspace. You may adapt the format according to the variables you think are most important to code the frequencies of. Please remember to attach the coding sheet as a separate file or embed it into the answer document.

 

Tip: Doing a preliminary exploration of the media content you’ve identified will help determine possible analytical categories that could be used to code content in the future. See lecture 9 and 10 for discussion of analytical categories.

 

~approximate length of answer: 300-400 words (+/- 100 words).