Content Analysis: Terms and Definitions, Quizzes of Communication

Download Content Analysis: Terms and Definitions and more Quizzes Communication in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Content Analysis DEFINITION 1 Any systematic procedure devised to examine the content of recorded information. The method of studying and analyzing communication in a systematic, objective, and quantitative manner for the purpose of measuring variables. TERM 2 Description DEFINITION 2 To identify what exists. Example: How common is smoking in films? TERM 3 Explanation DEFINITION 3 No definition but here is example: How do portrayals of terrorism in media differ before and after 11 September, 2001? What message characteristics have successful Presidential candidates used in ads? TERM 4 Population/Universe DEFINITION 4 To define the universe is to specify the boundaries of the body of content to be considered, which requires an appropriate operational definition of the relevant population. Examples: If they want to know the content of popular songs, they must define what is meant by a popular song TERM 5 Unit of Analysis DEFINITION 5 It is the smallest element of a content analysis but also one of the most important. May be a single word or symbol, a theme, or an entire article or story. TERM 6 Categories DEFINITION 6 Used to classify media content. Make sure the categories are formulated and well-adapted to the problem and the content TERM 7 Coding DEFINITION 7 The placing of a unit of analysis into a particular category TERM 8 Manifest Content DEFINITION 8 Precise words or image sizes TERM 9 Latent Content DEFINITION 9 Connotations or themes TERM 10 Mutually Exclusive DEFINITION 10 A category system in which a unit of analysis can be place in one and only one category TERM 21 Forced-choice question DEFINITION 21 A question that requires a subject to choose between two specified responses TERM 22 Analytical surveys DEFINITION 22 A survey that attempts to describe and explain why certain conditions exist (usually by testing certain hypotheses) TERM 23 Double bind question DEFINITION 23 Regardless of how the respondent answers, an affirmative response to the hidden premise is implied (example Do you still use marijuana) TERM 24 Internet survey DEFINITION 24 Surveys conducted over the internet. TERM 25 Descriptive surveys DEFINITION 25 A survey that attempts to picture or document current conditions or attitudes TERM 26 Double-barrelled question DEFINITION 26 A single question that requires two separate responses (for example do you like the price and style of this item) TERM 27 Leading question DEFINITION 27 A question that suggest a certain response or make an implicit assumption (for example, how long have you been an alcoholic?) TERM 28 Checklist question DEFINITION 28 A type of question in which the respondent is given a list of items and is asked to mark those that apply TERM 29 Feeling thermometer DEFINITION 29 A rating scale patterned after a weather thermometer on which respondents can rate their attitudes on a scale of 0 - 100 TERM 30 Mail survey DEFINITION 30 The mailing of self-administered questionnaires to a sample of people; the researcher must rely on the recipients to mail back their responses TERM 31 Closed-ended question DEFINITION 31 A question the respondent must answer by making a selection from a prepared set of options TERM 32 Filter question DEFINITION 32 A question designed to screen out certain individuals from participation in a study; also called a screener question TERM 33 Multiple-choice question DEFINITION 33 Allows respondents to choose an answer from several options TERM 34 Mutually exclusive DEFINITION 34 A category system in which a unit of analysis can be placed in one and only one category TERM 35 One-on-one interview DEFINITION 35 Sessions in which respondents are interviewed one at a time TERM 46 Cohort analysis DEFINITION 46 Different people over time from the same group in the same population TERM 47 Trend study DEFINITION 47 Samples different groups of people at different times from the same population TERM 48 Panel study DEFINITION 48 The same people over time TERM 49 Cross-sectional research DEFINITION 49 The collection of data from a representative sample at only one point in time TERM 50 Longitudinal Study DEFINITION 50 The collection of data at different points in time TERM 51 Mortality DEFINITION 51 The percentage of original sample members who drop out of the research project for one reason or another TERM 52 Sensitization DEFINITION 52 Becoming so accustomed to the stimulus it no longer accurately effects participants TERM 53 Test-retest effects DEFINITION 53 Unable to detect an effect due to taking a test multiple times TERM 54 Independent/Dependent Variable DEFINITION 54 The variable that is systematically varied by the researcher/ the variable that is observed and whose value is presumed to depend on the independent variable(s) TERM 55 Factor DEFINITION 55 Each independent variable in a factorial design TERM 56 Matching DEFINITION 56 Subjects are paired on a similar value of a relevant variable before being assigned to different groups TERM 57 Experimental/Control Group DEFINITION 57 Subjects who do not receive experimental treatment and thus serve as a basis of comparison in an experiment TERM 58 Extraneous Variables DEFINITION 58 Any variable other than the independent variable that could cause a change in the dependent variable TERM 59 Posttest-only control group DEFINITION 59 Neither group has a pretest, but Group 1 is exposed to the treatment variable, followed by a posttest. TERM 60 Random Assignment DEFINITION 60 An experimental technique for assigning subjects to different treatments TERM 71 Artificiality DEFINITION 71 Behavior of interest to mass media researchers is altered when studied out of its natural environment. TERM 72 Quasi-experimental design DEFINITION 72 Does not involve the random assignment of subjects to experimental groups. TERM 73 Reactivity DEFINITION 73 The influence that a subjects awareness of being measured or observed has on his or her behavior. TERM 74 Repeated-measures design DEFINITION 74 Several measurements of the same subject TERM 75 Solomon four-group design DEFINITION 75 Combines pretest-posttest control group design and posttest-only control group design, and is useful if pretesting is considered to be a negative factor. TERM 76 Staged manipulation DEFINITION 76 Researches construct events and circumstances that enable them to manipulate the independent variable. Frequently involve the use of a confederate (a person who pretends to be a subject but who is actually part of the manipulation.) Situations are contrived to manipulate independent variables. TERM 77 Straightforward manipulation DEFINITION 77 Written materials, verbal instructions, or other stimuli are presented to the subjects; the independent variable differences are known to participants. TERM 78 Interaction Effect DEFINITION 78 Measurement of the interaction of the two independent variables if the effect of the variables differs depending on the level of the other variable TERM 79 Main effects DEFINITION 79 The effect of the independent variable(s) on the dependent variable (no interaction is present)