Semantic Network Analysis
Semantic network analysis represents the meaning of a text or corpus as a network of concepts connected by their co-occurrence or grammatical proximity, then uses network-analytic measures to reveal which ideas are central, how concepts cluster, and how shared meaning is structured. In communication research it is the standard way to map the conceptual architecture of media coverage, organizational discourse, and public conversation at scale.
Read the full method
Sign in with a free account to read this section.
Method map
The neighbourhood of related methods — select a node to explore.
Sources
- Corman, S. R., Kuhn, T., McPhee, R. D., & Dooley, K. J. (2002). Studying complex discursive systems: Centering resonance analysis of communication. Human Communication Research, 28(2), 157–206. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-2958.2002.tb00802.x ↗
- 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 ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 22). Semantic Network Analysis of Communication Texts. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/communication/semantic-network-analysis
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
- Content AnalysisQualitative↔ compare
- Framing AnalysisCommunication↔ compare
- LIWC Text AnalysisCommunication↔ compare
- Network Agenda-SettingCommunication↔ compare