Changing the Latitudes and Attitudes about Content Analysis Research

Authors

Eve M. Brank, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Kathleen A. Fox, Sam Houston State UniversityFollow
Tasha J. Youstin, City University of New YorkFollow
Lee C. Boeppler, Barry University School of Law

Date of this Version

2009

Citation

International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 20:3 (2009), pp. 476-480.

Comments

International Society for Exploring Teaching and Learning, http://www.isetl.org/ijtlhe/

Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License

Abstract

The current research employs the use of content analysis to teach research methods concepts among students enrolled in an upper-division research methods course. Students coded and analyzed Jimmy Buffett song lyrics rather than using a downloadable database or collecting survey data. Students’ knowledge of content analysis concepts increased after a lecture on the topic of content analysis, but it further improved after participating in the song coding, data cleaning, and writing of results. Additionally, students reported high satisfaction with the project and believed it was an interesting and enjoyable technique for learning about research methods. We provide suggestions for incorporating similar data collection activities in undergraduate research methods courses.