Document analysis is a research method that involves the examination and interpretation of textual, visual, or other types of documents to uncover information, patterns, and insights. This method is used in various fields such as sociology, history, political science, and education to analyze documents such as letters, reports, newspapers, photographs, and archival material. Document analysis is typically used to investigate specific research questions, explore social phenomena, and provide context to other forms of data analysis. Researchers may analyze documents qualitatively by identifying themes, patterns, and meanings within the texts, or quantitatively by coding and categorizing content for statistical analysis. Overall, document analysis allows researchers to gain a deeper understanding of historical events, social structures, cultural practices, and individual experiences by examining the tangible evidence contained within various types of documents.