Codebook

Here are the research questions and definitions regarding this project:

RQ1. Were the first three paragraphs of each story positive, negative, or neutral?

            Definitions:

1.     Positive – language that supports cultural change in status quo

2.     Negative – language that supports the status quo

3.     Neutral – objective language that states the facts without taking a position

RQ2. Were the headlines on the stories positive, negative, or neutral?

            Definitions:

1.     Positive – language that supports cultural change in status quo

2.     Negative – language that supports the status quo

3.     Neutral – objective language that states the facts without taking a position

RQ3. Were the stories written by newspaper staff writers or wire service reporters, or published without a byline?

            Definitions:

1.     Staff writers – employees of the newspaper

2.     Wire reporters – not employees of the newspaper

3.     Without a byline – no name or organization

RQ4. Did the majority of the newspaper articles run on page one above the fold or below the fold?

            Definitions:

1.     Majority – more than 50 percent

2.     Above the fold – above the middle of the page

3.     Below the fold – below the middle of the page

RQ5. Was the tone of the editorials positive, negative, or neutral?

Definitions:

1.     Tone – language used by the writer to express his or her position on the issues

2.     Positive – language that supports cultural change in status quo

3.   Negative – language that supports the status quo

4.   Neutral – objective language that states the facts without taking a position