Online Ideology: A Comparison of Website Communication and Media Use

Jennifer A. Griffith; Cristina L. Byrne; Darins Nei; Jamie D. Barrett; Michael G. Hughes; Joshua L. Davis; Lauren N. Harkrider; Kimberly S. Hester; Amanda D. Angie; Issacc Robledo; Shane Connelly; H. Dan O'Hair; Michael D. Mumford

doi:10.1111/jcc4.12003

Online Ideology: A Comparison of Website Communication and Media Use

Jennifer A. Griffith, Cristina L. Byrne, Darins Nei, Jamie D. Barrett, Michael G. Hughes, Joshua L. Davis, Lauren N. Harkrider, Kimberly S. Hester, Amanda D. Angie, Issacc Robledo, Shane Connelly, H. Dan O'Hair, Michael D. Mumford

Communication

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examined and compared the websites of ideological groups from a communications and media use perspective. Thirty-six websites with message boards categorized as either violent ideological, nonviolent ideological, or nonviolent nonideological were content coded for several distinguishing characteristics. The results indicated that group type was predicted by the type of information presented, the difficulty of becoming a member, and the amount of freedom members had on discussion boards. These findings suggest that characteristics of violent ideological group websites can be used to distinguish them from websites of both nonviolent ideological and nonideological groups. This study also provides a demonstration of a research methodology that can be used to naturally observe ideological groups via an online setting.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	25-39
Number of pages	15
Journal	Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication
Volume	18
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/jcc4.12003
State	Published - Jan 2013

Keywords

Ideological groups
Internet groups
Message board communication
Online communication
Technology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Communication

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10.1111/jcc4.12003

Cite this

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title = "Online Ideology: A Comparison of Website Communication and Media Use",

abstract = "This study examined and compared the websites of ideological groups from a communications and media use perspective. Thirty-six websites with message boards categorized as either violent ideological, nonviolent ideological, or nonviolent nonideological were content coded for several distinguishing characteristics. The results indicated that group type was predicted by the type of information presented, the difficulty of becoming a member, and the amount of freedom members had on discussion boards. These findings suggest that characteristics of violent ideological group websites can be used to distinguish them from websites of both nonviolent ideological and nonideological groups. This study also provides a demonstration of a research methodology that can be used to naturally observe ideological groups via an online setting.",

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AU - Griffith, Jennifer A.

AU - Byrne, Cristina L.

AU - Nei, Darins

AU - Barrett, Jamie D.

AU - Hughes, Michael G.

AU - Davis, Joshua L.

AU - Harkrider, Lauren N.

AU - Hester, Kimberly S.

AU - Angie, Amanda D.

AU - Robledo, Issacc

AU - Connelly, Shane

AU - O'Hair, H. Dan

AU - Mumford, Michael D.

PY - 2013/1

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AB - This study examined and compared the websites of ideological groups from a communications and media use perspective. Thirty-six websites with message boards categorized as either violent ideological, nonviolent ideological, or nonviolent nonideological were content coded for several distinguishing characteristics. The results indicated that group type was predicted by the type of information presented, the difficulty of becoming a member, and the amount of freedom members had on discussion boards. These findings suggest that characteristics of violent ideological group websites can be used to distinguish them from websites of both nonviolent ideological and nonideological groups. This study also provides a demonstration of a research methodology that can be used to naturally observe ideological groups via an online setting.

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Online Ideology: A Comparison of Website Communication and Media Use

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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