Altheide: Ethnographic content analysis

Document: Any symbolic representation that can be obtained, retrieved for analysis.

Analysis: Researcher’s attempt to understand meaning and significance of document.

 

Primary documents: Objects of study

Secondary documents: Records about the primary documents.

 

Key concept: Symbolic interactionism

Documents constructed in context of social, organizational processes.

Cultural meaning emerges from comparison, investigation of documents over time in interactive context of social processes, including viewing by audiences.