Reference no: EM133881193
Homework: Communications
Evaluation Paper Instructions
Summary
Your homework is to select and evaluate a content analysis that has been published in an academic journal. You should choose an article in which the primary method used is quantitative content analysis (i.e., the article should have a "Method" section in which the authors use the term "content analysis" and explain their sample, coding categories, etc., and a "Results" section that quantifies patterns in the content). Examples of such articles are provided as part of the course readings, but you must find another article-not one of the course readings-to evaluate. (Google Scholar is one easy place to find published content analyses.) Be sure to choose a content analysis that, in your view, has both strengths and weaknesses. This paper is required to be 2-3 pages (double-spaced, 12pt font, 1-inch margins), plus references.
Specifics
Your paper should include the following components, in order, using subheads to identify each section:
A. Introduction (no more than 1 paragraph): Briefly describe the article you are evaluating (e.g., where it was published, what the researchers were studying, what they found).
B. Strengths (about 1 page): Explain the strengths of the content analysis, relying on course concepts to guide your thinking (e.g., was the sampling strategy sound, was reliability reported in an appropriate fashion, does the coding scheme appear to be valid).
C. Weaknesses (about 1 page): Explain the weaknesses of the content analysis, relying on course concepts to guide your thinking (e.g., was the sampling strategy sound, was reliability reported in an appropriate fashion, does the coding scheme appear to be valid).
D. Conclusion (about 1 paragraph): Explain whether, and why, you believe the strengths of the content analysis outweigh the weaknesses (or vice versa).