Methods for Analyzing Social Media

Social media is becoming increasingly attractive for users. It is a fast way to communicate ideas and a key source of information. It is therefore one of the most influential mediums of communication of our time and an important area for audience research. The growth of social media invites many new questions such as: How can we analyze social media? Can we use traditional audience research methods and apply them to online content? Which new research strategies have been developed? Which ethical research issues and controversies do we have to pay attention to? This book focuses on research strategies and methods for analyzing social media and will be of interest to researchers and practitioners using social media, as well as those wanting to keep up to date with the subject.

This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Technology in Human Services.

Dr Klaus Bredl is Professor of Digital Media at the Institute of Media and Education, at the University of Augsburg, Germany. His research interests include activity streams, immersion and new technologies in communication and education. He has worked and published in the field of technology enhanced learning, social media, knowledge communication and competence development.

Julia Hunniger, M.A. is Research Assistant in the Department of Digital Media at the Institute of Media and Education at the University of Augsburg, Germany. From 2009 to 2010 she was a consultant for e-learning at the Georg Simon Ohm University of Applied Sciences, Nuremberg, Germany. Her research interest include computer-mediated communication and the psychology of the internet and how it affects mental health. She is YECREA representative for the Audience and Reception Studies Section.

Jakob Linaa Jensen, Ph.D. is Associate Professor at the Department of Aesthetics and Communication, Media Studies and The Center for Internet Studies, at the University of Aarhus, Denmark. His research interests include democratic participation online, social media use and online methodologies. He is leading a European taskforce on methodological approaches to studies of social media.