This introductory book enables researchers and students of all backgrounds to compute interrater agreements for nominal data. It presents an overview of available indices, requirements, and steps to be taken in a research project with regard to reliability, preceded by agreement. The book explains the importance of computing the interrater agreement and how to calculate the corresponding indices. Furthermore, it discusses current views on chance expected agreement and problems related to different research situations, so as to help the reader consider what must be taken into account in order to achieve a proper use of the indices. The book offers a practical guide for researchers, Ph.D. and master students, including those without any previous training in statistics (such as in sociology, psychology or medicine), as well as policymakers who have to make decisions based on research outcomes in which these types of indices are used.

This book provides an up-to-date picture of the main methods for the quantitative analysis of text.

Popping begins by overviewing the background and the conceptual foundations of the field, introducing the latest developments. He then concentrates on a comprehensive coverage of the traditional thematic approaches of text analysis, followed by the newer developments in semantic and network text analysis methodologies. Finally, the author examines the relationship between content analysis and other kinds of text analysis - from qualitative research, linguistic analysis and information retrieval.

Computer-assisted Text Analysis focuses on the methodological and practical issues of coding and handling data, including sampling, reliability and validity issues, and includes a useful appendix of computer programs for text analysis.

The methods described are applicable across a wide range of disciplines in the social sciences and humanities as well as, for example, practitioners from the fields of political science, journalism., communication, marketing and information systems.