• How can analyzing texts help to inform your research?

A significant part of my content analysis is focused on analyzing written communication from social media posts and comments, to messages. A lot of these posts are considered part of the digital campaigning strategy for mass protests. Analyzing the language, structure, and the usage of these textual communication will help me find out what triggers actions or what amplifies certain phenomenon, in short, what is effective?

  • Which texts will you examine and why? Which of the textual methods will you use and why?

Mainly, I will be studying social media posts (published as public or protest organization groups on Facebook, either text only posts or captions with pictures) on mass protests and digital campaigns by the designated virtual community. I will also examine the messages shared and forwarded among organizers and participants. 

  • How do the specific texts you chose generate their meaning? What techniques of metaphor, simile, analogy, allusion, and imagery are employed?

I am hoping to find out the trends in the use of certain language or omission of certain words, and how they are connected to the privacy and safety of the protestors or organizers. I also intend to see the connection between the digital surveillance practices and forceful implementation of digital/national security legislation by the military, and the crafting of certain messages by the resistance.

  • Who is the intended audience of the text, and how does the text construct its audience? What assumptions are made?

The primary targeted audience would be the general public, activists, government employees, or military personnel (in the case of encouraging for defection or Civil Disobedience Movement), and the media in general. The tone and structure of the texts are expected to be varied depending on the target audience.