@article {9999, title = {Using natural language processing for qualitative data analysis}, journal = {International Journal of Social Research Methodology}, volume = {15}, year = {2012}, month = {2012}, chapter = {523-543}, abstract = {Social researchers often apply qualitative research methods to study groups and their communications artefacts. The use of computer-mediated communications has dramatically increased the volume of text available, but coding such text requires considerable manual effort. We discuss how systems that process text in human languages (i.e., natural language processing, NLP) might partially automate content analysis by extracting theoretical evidence. We present a case study of the use of NLP for qualitative analysis in which the NLP rules showed good performance on a number of codes. With the current level of performance, use of an NLP system could reduce the amount of text to be examined by a human coder by an order of magnitude or more, potentially increasing the speed of coding by a comparable degree. The paper is significant as it is one of the first to demonstrate the use of high-level NLP techniques for qualitative data analysis.}, doi = {10.1080/13645579.2011.625764}, attachments = {https://socqa.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/NLP_for_qualitative_analysis.pdf}, author = {Kevin Crowston and Allen, Eileen E. and Heckman, Robert} } @article {9999, title = {Validity issues in the use of social network analysis with digital trace data}, journal = {Journal of the Association for Information Systems}, volume = {12}, year = {2011}, month = {12/2011}, chapter = {Article 2}, abstract = {

There is an exciting natural match between social network analysis methods and the growth of data sources produced by social interactions via information technologies, from online communities to corporate information systems. Information Systems researchers have not been slow to embrace this combination of method and data. Such systems increasingly provide "digital trace data" that provide new research opportunities. Yet digital trace data are substantively different from the survey and interview data for which network analysis measures and interpretations were originally developed. This paper examines ten validity issues associated with the combination of data digital trace data and social network analysis methods, with examples from the IS literature, to provide recommendations for improving the validity of research using this combination.

}, doi = {10.17705/1jais.00282 }, url = {http://aisel.aisnet.org/jais/vol12/iss12/2/}, attachments = {https://socqa.syr.edu/sites/crowston.syr.edu/files/JAIS.RA-JAIS-08-0130-ReferencesFixed.pdf}, author = {James Howison and Kevin Crowston and Wiggins, Andrea} }