Analyzing Microblogs: Exploring the Psychology of Political Leanings
Abstract
Microblogging has become increasingly popular for commenting on current events, spreading gossip, and encouraging individualism, which favors its low-context communication channel. These social-media (SM) platforms allow users to express opinions while interacting with a wide range of populations. Hashtags allow immediate identification of like-minded individuals worldwide on a vast array of topics. For example, in 2016 the Colombia government held a referendum on a draft peace agreement with the antigovernment militia, Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). Popular approval would provide seats in the legislature for former FARC members and immunity for drug-cartel members. Government polling had indicated strong public support of the referendumwhich then failed. In this report, the output of Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC), a program that associates psychological meaning with the frequency of use of specific words, may suggest the nature of individuals internal states and general sentiments. When applied to groupings of SM posts unified by a hashtag, such information can be helpful to community leaders during periods in which the forming of public opinion happens in parallel with the unfolding of political, economic, or social events. This is especially true when outcomes stand to impact the well-being of the group.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 05, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1091949
Entities
People
- Meaghan Bowman
- Michelle Vanni
Organizations
- United States Army Research Laboratory