Defining and Measuring Social Class; Content Analysis

Outline of Research or Measurement

Quantative research methods.

Content analysis is a systematic, replicable technique for compressing many words of text into fewer content categories based on explicit rules of coding.

Strengths

+ Based on secondary data allowing researchers to re-examine previous data and studies, but apply it in a new light.

+ There are few, if any ethics envolved as the research is based upon the content and does not involving communicating with others.

+ A cheap and simple research method.

+ Can be a representative sample of research.

Weaknesses

- Sources used could be biased or distorted.

- Words and phrases may be taken out of context.

- Research may be influenced by the author of the text, the audience and the researcher.