News

New Lab for Text Analysis opens

13 October 2004

Source:	The Media Studies programme at Victoria University of Wellington

The Media Studies programme at Victoria University of Wellington, in cooperation with the Royal Society of New Zealand and Social Science Automation, announced the opening of the VUW Computer-Assisted Content Analysis Laboratory.

Using proprietary natural language processing software that was originally developed for creating psychological profiles from patterns of speech and writing, this laboratory will serve as a centre of global excellence and a resource for all New Zealand researchers. The Director, Dr Douglas A. Van Belle, said "The software can analyse any text that can be put in electronic form and the coding routines are capable of content analyses that rival, and in some ways exceed the sophistication possible with trained human research assistants."

The lab is structured to provide either contract research services or to serve as a resource that New Zealand researchers can utilize directly. Scholars, businesses, researchers and other interested parties from throughout New Zealand are encouraged to take advantage of the lab and are invited to attend some or all of the introductory seminars and training sessions, to be held in November. These sessions are funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand and Victoria University of Wellington. They are free to all who RSVP before the end of October, though a small fee of $15 per day will be assessed at arrival to cover the cost of lunch and refreshments served during the informal portions of the program.

For further information, contact either the Director (doug.vanbelle@vuw.ac.nz) or Jennifer Finlay (Jennifer.Finlay@vuw.ac.nz).