An Internet mediated domain of local governance? January 15, 2010

What? Seminar

Where? Room AH012, Adelphi House, University of Salford

How much? Free

Who for? Anyone interested in future media

More info: Yuwei Lin: [email protected]

Speaker:

Paul Hepburn (PhD Candidate at the Institute for Political & Economic Governance ( IPEG), University of Manchester)

Abstract:

Researching online political activity via hyperlinked networks is replete with methodological challenges not least of which is conceptually and empirically bounding the area of social activity under investigation.

This paper addresses this challenge through applying a distinctive mixed method approach within a conceptually defined internet mediated domain of local governance. This approach enabled an investigation into how the internet was used during a UK local government referendum on the introduction of a traffic congestion charging scheme.

Drawing upon Social Network Analysis theory, this method first utilises Lusher and Ackland's innovative Relational Hyperlink Analysis to quantitatively explore significance and meaning in the online network.

Secondly, Howard's network ethnography is used to frame subjects for qualitative investigation to unpick the complexities associated with institutional and civic activity in this domain.

This paper suggests that these methods combine to explore a domain bounded by both hyperlink and narrative and in doing so work to uncover, in a particular localised context, aspects of the new media use and effect that may have remained hidden had the methods been applied in isolation.

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Official Website: http://www.salford.ac.uk/events/details/1087