Catpac

Catpac is a computer program that analyzes text samples to identify key concepts contained within the sample. It was developed chiefly by Joseph Woelfel, a University at Buffalo sociologist for the analysis of attitude formation and change in the sociological context. It uses text files as input and produces output such as word and alphabetical frequencies as well as various types of cluster analysis.[1]

Design

Catpac is a self-organizing, i.e. unsupervised, interactive activation and competition (IAC) artificial neural network used for text analysis.[2][3] The program generates a multidimensional scalar output organizing words throughout the text by creating a weighted word-by-word matrix that establishes the eigenvector centralities of concepts.[4] The word-by-word matrix represents the relationship between one word and the occurrence of another.[5] Catpac identifies important words and patterns based on the organization of the text.[2] This process mimics the connections between neurons in a human brain, strengthening connections through conditioning to generate a pattern of similarities among all words within a body of text.[2]

Use

Catpac has been used in academic scholarship to investigate massive textual data sets,[6][7] as a strong semantic network analysis tool,[4][5][8] for longitudinal analyses,[4][8][9][10][11] for multilingual analyses,[12][13] as a predictor of media usage[14] and as a powerful content analysis tool.[15][16]

Availability

Catpac is currently available in windows 32 bit format.[2]

References

  1. ↑ http://academic.csuohio.edu/kneuendorf/content/cpuca/qtap.htm
  2. 1 2 3 4 Woelfel, Joseph. "Catpac II User's Guide" (PDF) (Version 2.0 ed.). The Galileo Company.
  3. ↑ http://www.galileoco.com/literature/Wolfpak10a.pdf
  4. 1 2 3 Egnoto, M.; Nam, Y.; Vishwanath, A (November 2010). A longitudinal analysis of the newspaper coverage of cell phones. National Communication Association Conference. San Francisco, CA.
  5. 1 2 Doerfel, M. L.; Barnett, G. A. (1999). "A semantic network analysis of the International Communication Association". Human Communication Research 25 (4): 589–603. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2958.1999.tb00463.x.
  6. ↑ Chen, H.; Evans, C.; Battleson, B.; Zubrow, E.; Woelfel, J. (10 October 2011). "Procedures for the precise analysis of massive textual datasets". Communication & Science Journal.
  7. ↑ Doerfel, M. L.; Barnett, G. A. (1996). "The use of CATPAC for textual analysis". Field Methods 8 (2): 4–7. doi:10.1177/1525822x960080020501.
  8. 1 2 Ortega, C.R.; Egnoto, M.J. (2011). Longitudinal analysis of press coverage of violent video games: Assessing agenda-setting via semantic and LIWC analyses. NYSCA conference.
  9. ↑ Kim, J.H.; Su, T-Y.; Hong, J. (2007). "The influence of geopolitics and foreign policy on the U.S. and Canadian media: An analysis of newspaper coverage of Sudan's Darfur conflict". The Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics 12 (3): 87–95. doi:10.1177/1081180x07302972.
  10. ↑ Murphy, P.; Maynard, M. (2000). "Framing the genetic testing issue: Discourse and cultural clashes among policy communities". Science Communication 22 (2): 133–153. doi:10.1177/1075547000022002002.
  11. ↑ Rosen, D.; Woelfel, J.; Krikorian, D.; Barnett, G.A. (2003). "Procedures for analyses of online communities". Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 8 (4).
  12. ↑ Evans, C.; Chen, H.; Battleson, B.; Wölfel, J.K.; Woelfel, J. (2008). Neural networks for pattern recognition in multilingual text. International Network for Social Network Analysis (INSNA) Sunbelt conference. St. Pete Beach, FL.
  13. ↑ Evans, C.; Chen, H.; Battleson, B.; Wölfel, J.K.; Woelfel, J. (2010). Unsupervised artificial neural networks for pattern recognition in multilingual text. Amherst, NY: RAH Press.
  14. ↑ Cheong, P.; Hwang, J.; Elbirt, B.; Chen, H.; Evans, C.; Woelfel, J (2010). "Media use as a function of identity: The role of the self concept in media usage". In Hinner, M. Freiberger beiträge zur interkulturellen und wirtschaftskommunikation [A forum for general and intercultural business communication]. The interrelationship of business and communication 6. Berlin: Peter Lang. pp. 365–381.
  15. ↑ Krippendorff, K. (2004). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
  16. ↑ Neuendorf, K. "Quantitative text analysis programs". The Content Analysis Guidebook Online. Retrieved 26 November 2010.

External links

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