A Systematic Review of Qualitative and Quantitative Content Analysis Applications in Urban Planning Research: Proposing a Mixed Method Approach

Abstract

Over the last century, there has been a shift from positivism to interpretivism in the philosophy of science, which forms the basis of qualitative and quantitative research. As a result, many studies utilizing content analysis have transitioned from quantitative to qualitative approaches. Although content analysis, as a method of systematic analysis of textual data, has become one of the most widely used in urban planning research, it has been underutilized due to a lack of detailed explanation and insufficient attention to its application in solving complex urban problems. In this paper, we endeavored to employ a mixed (quantitative–qualitative) content analysis of scholarly articles in the urban planning discipline acquired through a systematic review process. Our objective was to illustrate how mixed content analysis can be applied and demonstrate how its results can enhance the credibility of urban planning research. To achieve this goal, we have explained the subjects (what), the reasons for conducting the research (why), the results, and the application of the results of content analysis (how) in urban planning research. Considering the intertwining and complementary role of quantitative and qualitative content analyses in urban planning research, explaining the what, why, and how of content analysis can not only clarify its applications but also facilitates informed decision-making among urban stakeholders by providing a more comprehensive evidence base and enabling deeper analysis.