The SAGE Handbook of Social Media Research Methods

The SAGE Handbook of Social Media Research Methods provides a comprehensive guide to social media research, covering data collection, analysis, and interpretation. It includes new chapters on ethics, privacy, and politics, and broader coverage of topics such as data sources, analytical tools, and critical social media analysis. Written by leading scholars, the chapters offer theoretical and applied assessments and include case studies and data sets.

Format: Hardback
Length: 768 pages
Publication date: 22 September 2022
Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd

The SAGE Handbook of Social Media Research Methods is a comprehensive guide that covers every aspect of the research process, from data collection to analysis and interpretation. This second edition has undergone a thorough update and expansion, with 49 chapters compared to 39 in the previous edition. In addition to a dedicated section on ethics, privacy, and the politics of social media data, the new edition offers expanded coverage of various topics, including:

Data Sources: This section explores different sources of social media data, such as scraping and spidering, locative data, video data, and linked data. It also discusses platform-specific analysis and analytical tools.

Critical Social Media Analysis: The chapters in this section provide a mix of theoretical and applied assessments of social media research topics. They include a range of new case studies and data sets that exemplify the methodological approaches used.

Written by renowned scholars from around the world, the chapters in this Handbook offer a comprehensive exploration of social media research methodologies. They provide a theoretical foundation while also offering practical insights and examples.

This Handbook is an invaluable resource for researchers and postgraduate students embarking on social media research projects. It provides a comprehensive roadmap for understanding the complexities of social media data and applying appropriate research methodologies.

The SAGE Handbook of Social Media Research Methods is divided into eight parts:

Part 1: Conceptualising and Designing Social Media Research: This section provides an introduction to social media research and discusses the key concepts, theories, and frameworks that guide the study.

Part 2: Collecting Data: This section covers the various methods and techniques for collecting social media data, including surveys, interviews, observations, and content analysis. It also discusses ethical considerations and data privacy.

Part 3: Qualitative Approaches to Social Media Data: This section focuses on qualitative research methods, such as thematic analysis, narrative analysis, and discourse analysis. It explores the advantages and limitations of these methods and provides examples of their application in social media research.

Part 4: Quantitative Approaches to Social Media Data: This section discusses quantitative research methods, such as statistical analysis, content analysis, and network analysis. It explores the advantages and limitations of these methods and provides examples of their application in social media research.

Part 5: Diverse Approaches to Social Media Data: This section explores innovative approaches to social media research, such as ethnography, autoethnography, and visual analysis. It discusses the advantages and challenges of these methods and provides examples of their application in social media research.

Part 6: Research & Analytical Tools: This section discusses the various tools and techniques used in social media research, such as text analysis, sentiment analysis, network analysis, and machine learning. It explores the advantages and limitations of these tools and provides examples of their application in social media research.

Part 7: Social Media Platforms: This section discusses the different social media platforms and their characteristics, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. It explores the advantages and limitations of these platforms for social media research and provides examples of their use in research projects.

Part 8: Privacy, Ethics, and Inequalities: This section explores the ethical and privacy concerns associated with social media research. It discusses the importance of informed consent, anonymization, and data protection. It also discusses the potential biases and inequalities in social media research and provides strategies for addressing these issues.

In conclusion, the SAGE Handbook of Social Media Research Methods is a comprehensive and essential resource for researchers and postgraduate students interested in exploring the complexities of social media data. It provides a thorough roadmap for understanding the research process, applying appropriate methodologies, and analyzing social media data effectively. Whether you are a novice or an experienced researcher, this Handbook will be a valuable asset in your pursuit of knowledge and understanding in the field of social media research.

Weight: 1516g
Dimension: 182 x 252 x 51 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529720969
Edition number: 2 Revised edition