Qualitative Content Analysis

In social research, we need to have knowledge and proficiency in scientific methodologies and way of researching in order to identify and then solve the problems. Qualitative and quantitative types of research, which have different paradigmatic bases, determine these ways. In either of the qualitative and quantitative approaches, different tools and methods are required to conduct research. One of these methods is content analysis. Initially, content analysis was mostly used for measuring variables. In the middle of the twentieth century, qualitative approaches in content analysis had developed. Qualitative content analysis can be a kind of research method that contributes to the content interpretation of data. According to Hsieh's and Shanon's theory, the approaches in qualitative content analysis can be divided into three kinds: conventional content analysis, directed content analysis and summative content analysis. Given this, the present paper contrasts these three approaches and investigates the basic principles of this method and how to rely on it.