1. Chapter 10
Analyzing Content: Historical, Secondary, and Content Analysis, and Crime Mapping

2. Secondary Data Analysis
Uses pre-existing data in a different way or to answer a different research question than intended by those who collected the data
Four major types used in social science research
Surveys
Official Statistics
Official Records
Historical Documents

3. Sources of Secondary Data
With the advent of modern computers and, even more importantly, the Internet, secondary data analysis has become an increasingly accessible social research method.

4. Advantages of Using Secondary Data
Allow analyses of social processes in other inaccessible settings
Saves time and money
Allows the researcher to avoid data collection problems
Other Advantages depending on the specific data set and topic

5. Limitations of Secondary Data
May not be possible for a researcher to focus on the specific research question of original interest
Secondary analyst is ‘victim’ of whatever problems exist in the data
Errors
Poor sampling techniques
Poor response rate
Poor validity in measurements

6. Historical Events Research
Cross-sectional examination of something that occurred in the past
May be a case study of important event to examine its potential long-term importance

7. Comparative Methods Usually examine phenomena across societies
Focus on research questions that are more general in nature
Limitations of single-society studies
Generalization
Causal inference

8. Content Analysis
Systematic, objective, quantitative analysis of message characteristics
Analysis of the content of communication from sources, including
Books
Newspapers
Magazines TV
Movies
Videos
Websites
Historical documents
Video games
Songs
Speeches
Advertisements
Conversations
Graffiti

9. Content Analysis Issues with Content Analysis
Unit of Analysis (whom or what is being studied)
Sampling
Coding

10. Analyze Content Data Use your codes to define items to analyze
Count occurrences of particular items (ideas, words, etc.)
Create form to record codes and their meaning
General Procedures
Select a few “cases” (stories, articles)
“Read” the narrative (may be listen, view)
Look for all types of things that are described
Develop codes for these things
Determine how best to identify the types of things you are particularly interested in
As you “read” more, identify themes

11. Crime Mapping
Purpose is to illuminate relationship between some category of crime and corresponding characteristics such as poverty and disorganization across given locations

12. Example: Crime Push Pin Map
From Portland Police Bureau, online Crime Mapper:

13. Example of Relationship Map
San Diego, CA
1 probationer
Adult Education
School

14. Ethical Issues in Secondary Data Analysis
Generally, confidentiality is not an issue because existing data from research studies is usually in public use files
Confidentiality may be an issue in historical records and official agency records
IRB determines whether review is necessary

15. Conclusion: Secondary Data Analysis
Advantages:
It may be inexpensive and readily available.
Might have been collected by experts
It is often used to supplement primary sources of information
Disadvantage:
Very Dangerous
Wasn’t collected for secondary purpose
Validity and Reliability Concerns – Follow the paper trail

16. Conclusion: Secondary Data Analysis
Herbert Jacobs (1984)
“Like the apple in the garden of Eden, it is tempting, but full of danger for the unwary researcher.”
Social Production of Data
Discretionary actions by actors in the criminal justice system
Do recorded #’s represent actual behavior?