Longman / Prentice Hall

English

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Analyzing Streams of Language: Twelve Steps to the Systematic Coding of Text, Talk, and Other Verbal Data
Cheryl A. Geisler, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

ISBN-10: 0321165101
ISBN-13: 9780321165107

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2004
Format: Paper; 256 pp


Suggested retail price: $87.80
This item is out of print and is no longer available for purchase.

This innovative guide to analyzing verbal data provides a step-by-step methodology for exploring and describing streams of language.

Ideal as a main text or as a reference manual for researchers, this flexible book teaches students how to approach language systematically, focusing on building a descriptive analysis that can be articulated and is logical and reliable. Accessible and comprehensive, this guide takes students through the entire analytic process—from exploring the literature through designing the analysis, coding the data, examining patterns, evaluating their significance, and presenting the results—using simple, jargon-free terminology. The methodology presented develops a foundation that can be applied across disciplines, meeting the needs of students at a variety of stages of research.

  • Integrates computers into the analytic process, referencing commonly available and inexpensive software, such as Microsoft's Word and Excel, at each stage of the analysis.
  • Chapters 7-9 present graphing techniques that allow researchers to explore patterns intuitively.
  • An Appendix provides a quick reference guide to key Excel formulas used for analysis of verbal data.
  • TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGE! The author's web site—indicated by pointers throughout the text—offers video clips that use screen captures to illustrate the exact techniques described.
  • “Try It Out” sections provide real data to allow students to try out techniques on a small sample and compare results.
  • Each chapter ends with a project that applies the techniques presented in the text—each unit builds from one to the next, leading to the completion of a full project by the end of the text.
  • Sample workbooks and a bibliography provide sample data and further resources for students to analyze and develop their skills.

“Objectives” and “For Further Reading” at the beginning and end of every chapter.

Preface.

What Is Verbal Data?

What Verbal Data Can Tell You.

About This Book.

Philosophical Perspectives.

Comparison to Other Approaches.

How to Use This Book.

Why This Book.



1. Anchoring in the Literature.

1.1 Overview.

1.2 Finding an Anchor Point.

1.3 Using a Cited Reference Search.

1.4 Using a Bibliographic Database.

1.5 Choosing a Good Anchor.

1.6 Reverse Engineering.

Project: Reverse Engineering Your Literature.



2. Designing the Analysis.

2.1 Introduction to the Design of Analysis.

2.2 Constructing a Descriptive Framework.

2.3 Articulating Research Questions.

2.4 Defining the Focus for Analysis.

2.5 Sampling Cases.

2.6 Building in Comparisons.

2.7 Selecting a Random Sample.

2.8 Setting up a Data Workbook.

2.9 Setting up a Data Table.

Project: Designing Your Analysis.



3. Segmenting the Data.

3.1 Analyzing the Stream of Language.

3.2 Basic Units of Language.

3.3 Units in Conversation.

3.4 Units in Text.

3.5 Units in Interviews.

3.6 Units in Electronic Interactions.

3.7 Procedures for Segmentation.

3.8 Issues in Segmenting.

Project: Segmenting Your Data.



4. Coding the Data.

4.1 Coding Schemes.

4.2 Getting Reading to Code.

4.3 Revising a Coding Scheme.

4.4 Techniques for Inspecting Coding.

4.5 Techniques for Automated Coding.

4.6 Some Complex Coding Situations.

4.7 Enumerative Coding Schemes.

Project: Coding Your Data.



5. Achieving Reliability.

5.1 Understanding Reliability.

5.2 Managing the Second Coding.

5.3 Calculating Agreement.

5.4 Interpreting the Results.

5.5 Revising Your Analytic Procedures.

5.6 Finalizing Reliability.

Project: Achieving Reliability.



6. Calculating Frequency.

6.1 The Frequency Table.

6.2 Naming Data.

6.3 Defining Criteria.

6.4 Calculating Frequencies.

6.5 Calculating Marginals.

6.6 Calculating Relative Frequency.

Project: Calculating Freqency.



7. Seeing Patterns of Distribution.

7.1 Distribution.

7.2 Graphing Distribution.

7.3 Interpreting Distribution Patterns.

7.4 Refining Patterns Across Cases.

7.5 Refining Patterns Across Categories.

Project: Patterns of Distribution.



8. Exploring Patterns Across Dimensions.

8.1 Understanding Dimensions.

8.2 Building the Core Contingency Tables.

8.3 Graphing Dimensions.

8.4 Characterizing Dimensions.

8.5 Checking Patterns Across Contrast.

8.6 Checking Patterns Across Dimensions.

8.7 Checking Patterns Across Cases.

8.8 Putting It All Together.

Project: Patterns Across Dimensions.



9. Following Patterns over Time.

9.1 The Concept of Time.

9.2 Indexing in Time.

9.3 Aggregating in Time.

9.4 Exploring Aggregate Patterns.

Project: Patterns over Time.



10. Evaluating Significance.

10.1 The Concept of Significance.

10.2 The x2 Test of the Homogeneity of Distributional Variation.

10.3 The x2 Test of the Independence of Dimensional Variation.

10.4 The x2 Test of Temporal Variation.

10.5 Restrictions on the x2 Test.

Project: Measuring Significance.



11. Detailing Results.

11.1 The Importance of Detailing.

11.2 Areas for Detailing.

11.3 Locating Detail.

Project: Detailing Results.



12. Presenting Results.

12.1 Basics of a Full Accounting.

12.2 Options in Placement.

12.3 Options in Timing.

12.4 Maxims of Presentation.

12.5 Techniques of Presentation.

Project: Presenting Your Results.

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Pearson Higher Education offers special pricing when you choose to package your text with other student resources. If you're interested in creating a cost-saving package for your students contact your Pearson Higher Education representative.


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