2017 Volume 68 Issue 3 Pages 334-350
The author has proposed a quantitative text analysis method and developed a free software package, called KH Coder, so that anyone can apply the method in their sociological research. The first version of KH Coder was released in 2001. Since then, over 1,500 published studies have applied it to their work. We can safely say that a considerable number of applied research studies have used KH Coder. It is now essential not only to continue increasing this number but also to ensure KH Coder is used correctly and effectively in performing valid applied research. The present study examines existing applied research using KH Coder in order to identify how sociologically meaningful findings can be obtained from textual data using the software.
This study first briefly explains why the quantitative text analytical method and KH Coder are proposed. Representative applied studies that produced valid sociological inferences from textual data are then selected. Because these selected studies analyze various types of textual data such as the content of mass and social network communication, social research data, and government proceedings, an overview of the relevant applied research can be obtained by reviewing these applications. Our review describes how our method and KH Coder software were used together with the aid of researcher creativity. Then, based on this review, we discuss how the two can be successfully employed and suggest their future development.