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College Alcohol Policy Documents   

A Content Analysis

Content analysis, as the name implies, is a documentary method aimed at

producing a qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of the content of

written text, pictures, films or other media.  It utilizes a methodological

approach and standards and principles similar to those found in all methods

of social research  (Sarantakos, 1998).  In this instance, the documents for

analysis are the written alcohol policies produced by colleges in response

to the publication of the national framework document. The number of

colleges  involved had now increased to 22,  of which 18  provided written

alcohol policies for analysis. Of those,  13 policies had received full official

approval within their institutions and were described as being fully

operational, while the remaining five were either in the process of being

completed or were awaiting formal institutional ratification.  

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