According to Northwestern's undergraduate catalog, the C95 research seminar provides students with the chance to conduct original research on specific topics. My seminar this term will focus on computer methods for analyzing textual materials, such as presidential speeches, government documents, party platforms, newspaper editorials, professional publications, and so on. Every scholar needs to consult sources and retrieve information in the course of research. Computers can help a great deal in these activities. In fact, computer techniques for handling source material often open up entirely new research opportunities beyond taking notes and managing bibliographies.
Content analysis involves systematic study of messages conveyed in natural language text.
In political research, it usually results in straightforward tabulation of words and phrases used to communicate between political actors. Often these tabulations are subject to elementary statistical analysis. More sophisticated applications involve evaluating both the content of the message and its style of presentation. The seminar will cover several microcomputer programs for content analysis and information retrieval. All State of the Union addresses since 1945 You must formulate a substantively interesting question that you can answer through a systematic analysis of one or more of these bodies of texts.