Here are some general steps to conduct textual analysis:
Choose your research question: Define your research question and identify the text or set of texts that you want to analyze.
Familiarize yourself with the text: Read and re-read the text, paying close attention to its language, structure, and content. Take notes on key themes, patterns, and ideas that emerge.
Choose your analytical approach: Select the appropriate analytical approach for your research question, such as close reading, thematic analysis, content analysis, or discourse analysis.
Create a coding scheme: If you are conducting content analysis, create a coding scheme to categorize and analyze the content of the text. This may involve identifying specific words, themes, or ideas to code.
Code the text: Apply your coding scheme to the text and systematically categorize the content based on the identified themes or patterns.
Analyze the data: Once you have coded the text, analyze the data to identify key patterns, themes, or trends. Use appropriate software or tools to help with this process if needed.
Draw conclusions: Draw conclusions based on your analysis and answer your research question. Present your findings and provide evidence to support your conclusions.
Reflect on limitations and implications: Reflect on the limitations of your analysis, such as any biases or limitations of the selected method. Also, discuss the implications of your findings and their relevance to the broader research field.
