![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education Book Cover](/sites/dl/free/0072532491/title/fw_sm.gif) How to Design and Evaluate Research in Education, 5/e Jack R. Fraenkel,
San Francisco State University Norman E. Wallen,
San Francisco State University
Content Analysis
Cluster sampling | The selection of groups of individuals, called clusters, rather than single individuals. All individuals in a cluster are included in the sample; the clusters are preferably selected randomly from the larger population of clusters.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Content analysis | A method of studying human behavior indirectly by analyzing communications, usually through a process of categorization.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Latent content | The underlying meaning of a communication.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Manifest content | The obvious meaning of a communication.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Purposive sampling | A nonrandom sample selected because prior knowledge suggests it is representative, or because those selected have the needed information.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Random sample | A sample selected in such a way that every member of the population has an equal chance of being selected.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Reliability | The degree to which scores obtained with an instrument are consistent measures of whatever the instrument measures.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Theme | A means of organizing and interpreting data in a content analysis by grouping codes as the interpretation progresses.
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Unit of analysis | The unit that is used in data analysis (individuals, objects, groups, classrooms, etc.).
| ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | ![](/olcweb/styles/shared/spacer.gif) | Validity | The degree to which correct inferences can be made based on results from an instrument; depends not only on the instrument itself, but also on the instrumentation process and the characteristics of the group studied.
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