Analyzing Political Communication with Digital Trace Data: The Role of Twitter Messages in Social Science Research (Contributions to Political Science)

This book offers a framework for the analysis of political communication in election campaigns based on digital trace data that documents political behavior, interests and opinions. The author investigates the data-generating processes leading users to interact with digital services in politically relevant contexts. These interactions produce digital traces, which in turn can be analyzed to draw inferences on political events or the phenomena that give rise to them. Various factors mediate the image of political reality emerging from digital trace data, such as the users of digital services’ political interests, attitudes or attention to politics. In order to arrive at valid inferences about the political reality on the basis of digital trace data, these mediating factors have to be accounted for. The author presents this interpretative framework in a detailed analysis of Twitter messages referring to politics in the context of the 2009 federal elections in Germany. This book will appeal to scholars interested in the field of political communication, as well as practitioners active in the political arena. Preface; Contents; List of Figures; List of Tables; 1 Introduction: How to Use Twitter in the Social Sciences ; 1.1 Digital Trace Data as Information Source for PoliticalPhenomena; 1.2 A Map of the Territory; 1.3 Research Goals; 1.4 Structure of the Book; References; 2 Twitter, Usage and Research ; 2.1 Why Twitter?; 2.2 What is Twitter and How is it Used?; 2.2.1 What is Twitter?; 2.2.2 Usage Patterns; 2.3 Political Uses of Twitter: Politicians, Activists, Citizens, and the Media; 2.4 Rise to Prominence; References; 3 Twitter in the Analysis of Social Phenomena: An Interpretative Framework Front Matter....Pages i-xxi Introduction: How to Use Twitter in the Social Sciences....Pages 1-10 Twitter, Usage and Research....Pages 11-23 Twitter in the Analysis of Social Phenomena: An Interpretative Framework....Pages 25-68 Twitter as Political Communication Space: Publics, Prominent Users, and Politicians....Pages 69-106 Sensor of Attention to Politics....Pages 107-154 The Media Connection....Pages 155-188 Predictor of Electoral Success and Public Opinion at Large....Pages 189-210 Conclusion: Twitter and the Analysis of Social Phenomena....Pages 211-220