Computer-Mediated Anthropology
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An Online Resource Center |
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CMA Methodology: Computerized Data Analysis by Noah Porter, 2004 |
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"A concordance derives its power for analysis from the fact that it allows us to see every place in a text where a particular word is used, and so to detect patterns of usage and, again, to marshal evidence for an argument. Since words express ideas, themes and motifs, a concordance is highly useful in detecting patterns of meaning as well. The concordance focuses on word-forms, however -- not on what may be meant but what is actually said. It is an empirical tool of textual research" (McCarty 2002). The following page was made with Concordance to help analyze the CMA syllabi. Twelve anthropology syllabi were included in this analysis. Turkle (1995) pointed out that computers are (among other things) tools to think with; if these "tools to think with" help provide us with another perspective on our data and we value multivocality, then why not take advantage of this new perspective that qualitative analysis software can offer?
Of course, having a "tool to think with" means that it is still up to us to discover patterns in the data. Simply having the software does not guarantee good analysis anymore than having a paintbrush guarantees an artistic masterpiece. Take a look at this concordance and see what patterns you can find. References Cited McCarty, Willard Turkle, Sherry |
