Content-Analytic Techniques and Judicial Research

Content analysis is used widely by judicial scholars to classify judicial decisions and opinions. Unfortunately, much of the existing research either ignores or is insensitive to the demands of this methodology, resulting in findings based on potentially faulty data. Content analysis techniques and standards are discussed in this article which would likely produce highly reliable data. A case study involving U.S. Supreme Court decisions is also presented to demonstrate these techniques and to discuss options for researchers when less than fully reliable data are produced.