Content Analysis
Kimberly A. Neuendorf, Anup Kumar · The International Encyclopedia of Political Communication · 2015
Abstract This entry reviews the methodological options for and issues important to quantitative content analysis, including human coding versus computer‐aided text analysis, reliability, validity (including external validity), and the integration of content analysis data with additional, extra‐message data. A general overview of qualitative approaches to content analysis is also provided. Further, the applications of content analysis in the field of political communication are reviewed, with two main focuses: the study of messages fulfilling a news function, and those supporting a campaign function.