CONTENT ANALYSIS

    One of the problems of social research we've discussed from time to time concerns the impact of the observer on the subjects being observed.  This is a problem when the subjects of field research know they are being observed, even if they are unaware that the observer is actually a researcher.  It is also true when subjects participate in experiments or surveys.

    Unobtrusive research refers to methods in which the research act can have no impact on what is being observed.  In this chapter, we examine content analysis, the analysis of existing statistics, and historical/comparative studies.