Communicative Solidarity in Social Media: Methodological Peculiarities of Research
https://doi.org/10.22162/2075-7794-2016-26-4-185-191
Abstract
In modern science, the topic of social solidarity is certainly relevant and is evolving. A special factor in the development of the theme is the active formation of social communities in not only the real world but also in the virtual one. The article aims to examine the methodological peculiarities of research of communicative solidarity in social media. The phenomenon of solidarity provides explicit opportunities for interpretation in the context of large-scale social transformations that have been taking place in our country in the past two decades. In a situation of deep and structural crises, peculiarities of social interactions based on solidarity get manifested most clearly. Synthesizing the defi nition of “solidarity” and characteristics of communicative solidarity, we can assert that in the broadest sense communicative solidarity arises in the course of transmission and reception of information based on harmony and mutual trust given that it also serves as the basis for unity of social actors pursuing a certain goal. Studies of communicative solidarity in social media should be based on the methodology of the network analysis (SNA). The main distinct feature of the latter from other approaches is that it focuses the researcher’s attention on the interaction within the network rather than on separate attributes and characteristics of the object under consideration. At the empirical level, application of the methodology of the network analysis in studies of the phenomenon of communicative solidarity makes it possible to defi ne the basic structural components of typical communicative practices in social media, to perform their typology and classifi cation in the context of defi nite situations. Moreover, the network analysis has extensive capabilities for analyzing textual information which is important enough for studies of communicative solidarity in social media. The network analysis of texts fi lls the structure of communicative solidarity with meaningful and essential characteristics. Such analysis helps identify new mechanisms of social interactions that affect the characteristics of communicative solidarity. The methodology of the network analysis can signifi cantly reduce research costs when it comes both to studies of social solidarity in diverse virtual forms as well as those of communication practices typical of network communitie
About the Authors
A. E. Gapich
North-Caucasus Federal University
Russian Federation
Ph. D. in Sociology, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
Russian Federation
Ph. D. in Sociology, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
A. P. Istomina
North-Caucasus Federal University
Russian Federation
Ph. D. in Sociology, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
Russian Federation
Ph. D. in Sociology, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology
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Review
For citations:
Gapich A.E., Istomina A.P. Communicative Solidarity in Social Media: Methodological Peculiarities of Research. Oriental Studies. 2016;9(4):185-191. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.22162/2075-7794-2016-26-4-185-191
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