Lesson Report:
# Lesson Report
## Title: Content Analysis, Case Studies, and Discourse Analysis in Research
### Synopsis:
This session focused on content analysis, case study analysis, and discourse analysis as research methodologies. Students completed coding and mapping exercises on Ronald Reagan’s speech, practiced triangulation in case studies, and explored the role of language in shaping ideologies and power structures. The lesson emphasized methodological applications in students’ research projects and provided guidance on structuring their analysis.
—
## Attendance:
– One student, Tuba, was noted absent.
– Another student mentioned being absent due to surgery and submitted a medical certificate.
—
## Topics Covered:
### **Mapping Themes in Content Analysis**
– Reviewed the previously assigned content analysis of Reagan’s speech, focusing on thematic coding.
– Discussed five recurring themes:
– **Religious Justifications**—Examined references to prayers, religious institutions, and historical invocations of faith as moral justification.
– **Moral Dichotomy**—Analyzed Reagan’s use of good vs. evil framing, particularly in discussions of family values and communism.
– **Historical References**—Identified how historical figures and past governmental concepts reinforce Reagan’s arguments.
– **Domestic Policy as a Moral Issue**—Explored how Reagan frames various social policies (e.g., abortion, marriage) as moral imperatives tied to national identity.
– **USSR as “Evil”**—Examined rhetoric that demonizes the Soviet Union as morally corrupt.
– Demonstrated how paragraphs could carry multiple themes, emphasizing cross-theme relationships.
### **Introduction to Case Study Analysis**
– **Definition & Purpose:**
– Case studies answer “how” and “why” questions in research.
– They synthesize different texts to create a single coherent narrative.
– **Process of Case Analysis:**
– Define the case and research question.
– Collect diverse data sources (e.g., primary documents, secondary scholarly work).
– Use **triangulation** to verify information by comparing multiple sources.
– Identify patterns, convergences/divergences, and synthesize findings into a cohesive account.
– **Example Exercise:**
– Analyzed a fictional scenario about a city implementing green energy policies.
– Compared three excerpts: a government policy document, a news article, and an interview with a city official.
– Discussed agreement and divergence between sources, as well as implications for credibility and policy evaluation.
### **Understanding Discourse Analysis**
– **Key Differences from Content Analysis:**
– Examines *how* language influences social structures, ideologies, and power dynamics rather than just coding themes.
– **Methodological Approach:**
– Identify linguistic features (metaphors, binaries, presuppositions).
– Contextualize within historical, cultural, and political frameworks.
– Analyze power dynamics (who constructs discourse, who gets silenced).
– Explore societal impact (how language affects policies, perceptions, or behaviors).
– **Application Example:**
– Examined an excerpt from Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech, highlighting:
– Use of metaphor (“genetic makeup of the nation”).
– Binaries dissolving racial division.
– Assumed truths about diversity as central to American identity.
– Positioning of Obama as a bridge between differing racial identities in America.
—
## Actionable Items:
### **Administrative & Course Progress**
– **Assignment Deadline Extension:**
– Chapters 2 and 3 are now due **Wednesday, 12th** at **6 PM**.
– The professor emphasized this is the **final extension** due to grading deadlines.
– **Operationalization Submission:**
– Students who have been granted an extension on operationalization must submit by **Tuesday**.
### **Student Support & Research Tools**
– **Software for Speech and Text Analysis:**
– Professor will compile and send tools for text analysis (some with free trials).
– Students interested should follow up via email.
– **Verification of Absences:**
– Students absent due to medical reasons should submit proper documentation (those with medical notes already submitted were acknowledged).
### **Follow-Ups for Next Class**
– Prepare to discuss findings on content, case study, and discourse analysis applications in student research.
– Students should review assigned readings on qualitative methodologies for deeper understanding.
—
This lesson solidified key methodologies in qualitative research while providing hands-on analysis practice. The transition between structured analytical techniques (content analysis) and interpretative approaches (discourse analysis) was emphasized to better support students’ individual research projects.
Homework Instructions:
NO HOMEWORK
No homework was assigned during this lesson. The professor concluded the class by discussing deadlines for chapters two and three of students’ work, but no new assignments or tasks were explicitly given.