Document Analysis

Document analysis is a form of qualitative research that uses a systematic procedure to analyze documentary evidence and answer specific research questions. Similar to other methods of analysis in qualitative research, document analysis requires repeated review, examination, and interpretation of the data in order to gain meaning and empirical knowledge of the construct being studied. Document analysis can be conducted as a stand-alone study or as a component of a larger qualitative or mixed methods study, where it is often used to triangulate findings gathered from another data source (e.g., interview or focus group transcripts, observation, surveys). When used in triangulation, documents can corroborate or refute, elucidate, or expand on findings across other data sources, which helps to guard against bias. When used as a stand-alone study, it can answer questions about policy, past events, cultural context, organizations, activities, groups, and more. Document analysis is a viable independent research method and should not be considered merely as a supplement to other methods. This entry explores the method of using documents as data and describes the two primary types of data. It also explains how to identify document sources and select an appropriate sample of documents. Creating a system of document management is then discussed, followed by the process of data analysis and some limitations to document analysis.