Bernard Berelson

Bio: Bernard Berelson is an academic researcher from Population Council. The author has contributed to research in topics: Population & Family planning. The author has an hindex of 29, co-authored 75 publications receiving 14951 citations. Previous affiliations of Bernard Berelson include University of Chicago.

The People's Choice: How the Voter Makes Up His Mind in a Presidential Campaign

Abstract: Die von Paul F. Lazarsfeld, Bernard Berelson und Hazel Gaudet 1944 veroffentlichte Studie The people’s choice untersucht den Prasidentschaft swahlkampf in den USA 1940. Analysiert wird: „How the voter makes up his mind in a presidential campaign”. Die Entstehung individueller Wahlentscheidungen und der Einfluss von Informationen verschiedener Quellen, u. a. der Medien wurden mittels eines fur die Zeit revolutionaren Paneldesigns untersucht. Die Studie begrundet einen Meilenstein in der kommunikationswissenschaftlichen Forschung, da sie den Grundstein fur einen Paradigmenwechsel legt, namlich die Abkehr von der Annahme des Publikums als Masse, die den Einflussen der Massenmedien ausgeliefert ist, hin zu den „limited effects“ der Medien. Ausschlaggebend fur diesen Paradigmenwechsel waren drei in The people’s choice vorgestellte Konzepte, die auch heute noch in der Kommunikationswissenschaft diskutiert werden: Die These der selektiven Zuwendung des Publikums zu Medieninhalten, das Konzept der Meinungsfuhrer und die These vom Zweistufenfluss der Kommunikation. In diesem Beitrag werden der Inhalt des Werkes sowie die Kritik daran mit Fokus auf diese drei Konzepte vorgestellt.

The people's choice.

Abstract: В своей классической работе «Выбор народа» группа авторов под руководством Пола Лазарсфельда впервые комплексно исследует влияние масс медиа на электоральное поведение на примере президентской кампании Рузвельта-Уилки 1940 года. На протяжении семи месяцев авторы опрашивают около 3000 респондентов и приходят к выводу, что мнение большинства людей зависит не напрямую от СМИ, а от других членов их первичных групп, которые и являются активными потребителями медиа-продукции. Этих людей авторы назвали прочно вошедшим в научный обиход термином «лидеры мнения».

Voting: A Study of Opinion Formation in a Presidential Campaign

Abstract: "Voting" is an examination of the factors that make people vote the way they do. Based on the famous Elmira Study, carried out by a team of skilled social scientists during the 1948 presidential campaign, it shows how voting is affected by social class, religious background, family loyalties, on-the-job relationships, local pressure groups, mass communication media, and other factors. Still highly relevant, "Voting" is one of the most frequently cited books in the field of voting behavior.

Three Approaches to Qualitative Content Analysis

Abstract: Content analysis is a widely used qualitative research technique. Rather than being a single method, current applications of content analysis show three distinct approaches: conventional, directed, or summative. All three approaches are used to interpret meaning from the content of text data and, hence, adhere to the naturalistic paradigm. The major differences among the approaches are coding schemes, origins of codes, and threats to trustworthiness. In conventional content analysis, coding categories are derived directly from the text data. With a directed approach, analysis starts with a theory or relevant research findings as guidance for initial codes. A summative content analysis involves counting and comparisons, usually of keywords or content, followed by the interpretation of the underlying context. The authors delineate analytic procedures specific to each approach and techniques addressing trustworthiness with hypothetical examples drawn from the area of end-of-life care.

The Matthew effect in science. The reward and communication systems of science are considered.

Abstract: This account of the Matthew effect is another small exercise in the psychosociological analysis of the workings of science as a social institution. The initial problem is transformed by a shift in theoretical perspective. As originally identified, the Matthew effect was construed in terms of enhancement of the position of already eminent scientists who are given disproportionate credit in cases of collaboration or of independent multiple discoveries. Its significance was thus confined to its implications for the reward system of science. By shifting the angle of vision, we note other possible kinds of consequences, this time for the communication system of science. The Matthew effect may serve to heighten the visibility of contributions to science by scientists of acknowledged standing and to reduce the visibility of contributions by authors who are less well known. We examine the psychosocial conditions and mechanisms underlying this effect and find a correlation between the redundancy function of multiple discoveries and the focalizing function of eminent men of science—a function which is reinforced by the great value these men place upon finding basic problems and by their self-assurance. This self-assurance, which is partly inherent, partly the result of experiences and associations in creative scientific environments, and partly a result of later social validation of their position, encourages them to search out risky but important problems and to highlight the results of their inquiry. A macrosocial version of the Matthew principle is apparently involved in those processes of social selection that currently lead to the concentration of scientific resources and talent ( 50 ).

Techniques to Identify Themes

Abstract: Theme identification is one of the most fundamental tasks in qualitative research. It also is one of the most mysterious. Explicit descriptions of theme discovery are rarely found in articles and reports, and when they are, they are often relegated to appendices or footnotes. Techniques are shared among small groups of social scientists, but sharing is impeded by disciplinary or epistemological boundaries. The techniques described here are drawn from across epistemological and disciplinary boundaries. They include both observational and manipulative techniques and range from quick word counts to laborious, in-depth, line-by-line scrutiny. Techniques are compared on six dimensions: (1) appropriateness for data types, (2) required labor, (3) required expertise, (4) stage of analysis, (5) number and types of themes to be generated, and (6) issues of reliability and validity.

Qualitative Content Analysis

Abstract: Der Beitrag beschreibt einen Ansatz systematischer, regelgeleiteter qualitativer Analyse von Text, der methodische Starken der quantitativen Inhaltsanalyse teilweise ubernimmt und zu einem qualitativ orientierten Instrumentarium ausweitet. Dazu werden historische Entwicklungslinien der Inhaltsanalyse aufgezeigt und die Grundlagen der Technik (Analyseeinheiten, Schrittmodelle, Arbeiten mit Kategoriensystemen, Gutekriterien) expliziert. Schlieslich werden an Techniken Qualitativer Inhaltsanalyse die induktive Kategorienentwicklung und die deduktive Kategorienanwendung naher dargestellt. Es wird gezeigt, wo Computerprogramme diese qualitativen Analyseschritte unterstutzen konnen, es werden Ansatzpunkte quantitativer Auswertungsschritte festgemacht und abschliesend die Moglichkeiten und Grenzen des Ansatzes diskutiert. URN: urn:nbn:de:0114-fqs0002204