Sources and coding · Introductory
Sentiment, Emotion and Stance: From Analysis to Coding
Examine how a text can express frustration, support a proposal and describe a positive encounter at the same time. Learn to distinguish sentiment, emotion and stance, review saved labels against source context, and explain how these readings can inform a purposeful qualitative coding exercise.
A short post can contain several evaluations, emotions and positions. Understanding those differences is a practical research skill. This introductory extension uses a small, already analysed teaching collection to investigate what sentiment, emotion and stance each contribute to a research question.
What you will explore
- Define an explicit stance proposition and identify the referents within a passage.
- Explain the different questions addressed by sentiment, emotional expression, stance and qualitative coding.
- Review a saved classification through contextual reading and explain a revised or unresolved interpretation.
- Connect the exercise to a small set of substantive codes appropriate to the research question.
We begin by defining a proposition about access to a public service. Through close reading, you will distinguish the object of an evaluation from a position towards that proposition. Prepared examples include qualified support, separate evaluations of staff and systems, quotation, sarcasm and an excerpt that leaves its position unstated.
Using SAM's coding views, we will examine the saved analytical label beside an independent researcher reading and discuss the reasons for agreement, revision or uncertainty. We will then consider which substantive qualitative codes help answer the study's question. The session ends with one annotated comparison and a short explanation of the decisions behind it.
The subsequent coding-framework workshop provides more time to develop definitions, examine difficult passages and document a sustained coding process.
Who it is for
Researchers, students, evaluators and analysts using social-media or other short-text material.
The teaching example
Prepared synthetic posts about access to a public service, with an explicit stance proposition and reviewed analytical labels.
Session outline
| Topic | Minutes |
|---|---|
| Research question, target proposition and analytical dimensions | 10 |
| Read two examples for evaluative tone and emotional expression | 15 |
| Compare stance readings, multiple referents and context flags | 15 |
| Screen break | 5 |
| Examine saved labels beside researcher readings in Coding | 20 |
| Develop a small substantive coding example and decision note | 15 |
| Discuss unresolved cases and the next stage of coding | 10 |
Researcher decisions
You define the proposition, identify the referents and explain what evidence supports each reading. You choose whether and how the classifications inform a qualitative framework within your analytical approach.
Your practical takeaway
An annotated record comparing analytical dimensions, with a target statement, contextual notes and a justified coding decision.
Suggested preparation
The introductory qualitative or social-media session, or equivalent familiarity with SAM and qualitative analysis.
Practical questions
Preparation and materials for this delivery
The introductory qualitative or social-media session, or equivalent familiarity with SAM and qualitative analysis.
Your booking includes named access to the shared SAM teaching workspace on the day of your course and for the following 14 days, ending at 23:59 Europe/London on the fourteenth day after your course. Explore around ten prepared teaching datasets and practise the course methods. A paid SAM subscription is not required. The teaching workspace uses the supplied datasets only; uploading or importing your own data and starting new data collections are unavailable. You may watch the demonstration or use the included practice access.
Slides, handouts and practice datasets are included. Slides and handouts are available to download for 30 days from sharing and may be kept for personal learning and reference. Separate dataset and source licences still apply.
A checked recording of the teaching and demonstration will be shared with registered participants within five working days of the course, with checked replay captions. It will remain available to view for 30 days from sharing. Recording access continues independently of the SAM teaching workspace access period. To watch your private course replay, you will need a free Zoom account. Please use the same email address as your booking, or contact us before the course if your Zoom account uses a different address.
90 minutes, including a five-minute screen break.
Full refunds, including booking fees, are available at least seven calendar days before the webinar, or within 14 days after the day of booking even after attendance or resource access. One free transfer to an available published repeat requires 48 hours’ notice; substitutes require 24 hours’ notice and the applicable ticket eligibility. See Practical questions below for the full cancellation, transfer and refund arrangements.
Live online via Zoom, with automatic English captions. For accessibility requests, use the training enquiry form: https://samapp.bigqualdatalabs.com/support/training?reason=accessibility You will be able to tell us what would help you take part, without sharing a medical diagnosis. Questions can be asked through chat or speech, and camera use is optional.
How long are the courses and how are they delivered?
Course duration, dates and times are shown with each delivery. Sessions run live online via Zoom with automatic English captions. The 90-minute sessions include a five-minute screen break; longer workshops have their own schedules. Check your selected delivery for its time and timezone. Dates labelled Proposed remain provisional.
Can I watch the demonstration or take part?
For sessions that include teaching-workspace access, your booking includes named access to the shared SAM teaching workspace on the day of your course and for the following 14 days, ending at 23:59 Europe/London on the fourteenth day after your course. Explore around ten prepared teaching datasets and practise the course methods. A paid SAM subscription is not required. The teaching workspace uses the supplied datasets only; uploading or importing your own data and starting new data collections are unavailable. You may watch the demonstration or use the included practice access. Each course states its access arrangements before bookings open.
Do I need to attend every date?
No. Repeat dates teach the same course; choose one delivery per topic. Courses can be taken separately where you meet their suggested preparation, including equivalent prior experience.
What experience do I need?
Check the suggested preparation on each course page. It explains any previous SAM experience, prerequisite course or equivalent experience needed.
What will attendance cost?
Course fees are shown with each delivery. Sessions priced at £60 standard or £40 student/access include booking fees. The student/access rate is for students, unwaged researchers and researchers personally funding attendance without institutional training support. Fees are confirmed before a session opens for booking.
Will I receive a recording and materials?
For sessions that include a replay, a checked recording of the teaching and demonstration will be shared with registered participants within five working days of the course, with checked replay captions. It will remain available to view for 30 days from sharing. Recording access continues independently of the SAM teaching workspace access period. Slides, handouts and practice datasets are included. Slides and handouts are available to download for 30 days from sharing and may be kept for personal learning and reference. Separate dataset and source licences still apply. To watch your private course replay, you will need a free Zoom account. Please use the same email address as your booking, or contact us before the course if your Zoom account uses a different address. Included benefits are shown on each course page before bookings open.
What will be recorded, and how long are meeting files kept?
We record the trainer, slides and SAM demonstrations. Participant gallery view, names and chat are kept out of the shared recording. Questions are repeated anonymously and recording is paused for personal-case discussions. Camera-off attendance is welcome. Raw recordings and any participant-identifying transcripts or chats are deleted within 60 days of first sharing the replay.
Is there a SAM subscription offer?
For sessions that include the subscription offer, course attendees receive 20% off the first eligible Academic or Professional individual SAM subscription invoice only: the first monthly invoice or the first annual invoice. Subsequent invoices use normal pricing. Redeem within 30 days of your course date. Standard pricing applies afterwards. The offer applies once per customer to individual subscription fees and cannot be combined with another promotional discount. Additional processing Credits, top-ups, private training and team or institutional plans are excluded. Repeat course attendance does not extend or restart the discount. A subscription purchase is optional and separate from the course booking. Included benefits are shown on each course page before bookings open.
How can I request an accessibility adjustment?
Live online via Zoom, with automatic English captions. Request an adjustment through Ask about training: https://samapp.bigqualdatalabs.com/support/training?reason=accessibility You will be able to tell us what would help you take part, without sharing a medical diagnosis. Questions can be asked through chat or speech, and camera use is optional.
Can I cancel my booking?
You can cancel for a full refund, including booking fees, at least seven calendar days before your webinar starts. We also offer a full refund if you cancel within 14 days after the day you booked, including if you have already attended or accessed the recording or teaching workspace. For later cancellations outside these windows, please contact us. We will consider the circumstances and any transfer available. Any amount retained will be limited to reasonable costs or losses we cannot avoid. These arrangements do not limit your statutory rights.
Can I transfer to another date or send a substitute?
Contact us at least 48 hours before the start to transfer once, free of charge, to another published date for the same webinar, subject to availability. You may nominate a substitute attendee at least 24 hours before the start. For a student/access ticket, the substitute must also qualify for that rate or pay the difference to the standard price.
What happens if SAM cancels or changes the date?
If we cancel your webinar, you will receive a full refund. If we change its date, you may choose the replacement date or a full refund.
How do I request a cancellation or transfer?
Use Ask about training to request a cancellation or transfer: https://samapp.bigqualdatalabs.com/support/training?reason=course Include your name, booking reference and course date when contacting us. We aim to respond within five working days. Refunds are made without undue delay and within 14 days, normally to the original payment method. These arrangements do not limit your statutory rights.
Can you provide private online team training?
We offer live online training for research groups and organisations. Sessions can be tailored to your research context, experience and learning goals. Ask about private online team training: https://samapp.bigqualdatalabs.com/support/training?reason=team
Continue your learning
YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Dr Sam Martin
Sam is a digital sociologist and the developer of Social Analysis of Meaning (SAM). The platform and courses extend her Big Qual Methods work with Oxford and UCL/RREAL over the years. Her teaching connects analytical tools with research questions, context and researcher judgement.
Keep in touch about training
Register for course updates. This does not reserve a place. To attend an open session, use its Book on Eventbrite button. No SAM account or subscription is needed to register interest.
Ask about a course, accessibility or private online team training. An enquiry does not subscribe you to course updates.