The Illustrated Guide to the Content Analysis Research Project

The Illustrated Guide to the Content Analysis Research Project makes mass media research more accessible through an informal and humorous student-centered approach.

Author Patricia Swann provides a colorful, step-by-step guide to developing a typical mass media research project using the content analysis method. The fundamental elements of this research method are presented in plainspoken language perfect for undergraduates and new researchers, complete with engaging illustrations and an informal narrative that tackle students? most common sticking-points when learning and applying research methods.

Supplemented by online worksheets for further reflection, this book is an excellent companion to research-centered courses in mass media, communication studies, marketing, and public relations at the introductory level.

1. Getting Started 2. Understanding the Scientific Method 3. Finding Your Research Approach 4. Ethical Considerations 5. Picking Your Research Topic 6. Writing the Literature Review Section 7. Writing the Hypothesis and Research Question 8. Writing the Method Section 9. Writing the Results Section 10. Writing the Discussion and Conclusion Sections 11. Writing the Abstract 12. Formatting, References, and Appendices 13. Sharing Your Research

Patricia Swann, former Dean of the School of Business and Justice Studies, is a Professor of Public Relations and Management at Utica College, USA. She is the Executive Director of the Raymond Simon Institute for Public Relations and Journalism and the former head of the Public Relations Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. She is the author of Cases in Public Relations Management. Swann, after 20 years of experience in the public relations and journalism industries, has garnered numerous awards for her work.