Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Political Discourse Modeling with Epistemic Network Analysis and Quantitative Ethnography: Rationale and Examples

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Advances in Quantitative Ethnography (ICQE 2022)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 1785))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

This paper extends an analytic framework for political discourse that takes place over digital social media. First proposed in 2020, the framework applies principles of epistemic frame theory and quantitative ethnography to classify and investigate relationships in political discourse patterns, to situate and visualize broad discourse patterns, and to facilitate ethnographic analysis that incorporates emotion as paramount to explaining these patterns. The paper also reviews the constructs of discursive transactions and emotional grammars to scaffold the framework’s explanatory value. This research is meant to use quantitative ethnography and its tools to contribute to a broader dialog on the nature and cost of dysfunctional political discourse patterns, to help researchers articulate both the spiraling nature of dysfunctional political discourse, and the profound damage it inflicts on social goals of fairness, well-being, and prosperity. Commentary threads following political articles from the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal are modeled with the Epistemic Network Analysis (ENA) software tool to illustrate the viability of a political discourse coding system for the proposed framework.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Hamilton, E., Hobbs, W.: Epistemic frames and political discourse modeling. In: Ruis, A.R., Lee, S.B. (eds.) ICQE 2021. CCIS, vol. 1312, pp. 32–46. Springer, Cham (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67788-6_3

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  2. Karadenizova, Z., Dahle, K.-P.: Analyze this! Thematic analysis: hostility, attribution of intent, and interpersonal perception bias. J. Interpersonal Violence, 0886260517739890 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  3. TenHouten, W.D.: Anger, social power, and cognitive appraisal: application of octonionic sociocognitive emotion theory. J. Polit. Power 12(1), 40–65 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Sanfey, A.G., et al.: The neural basis of economic decision-making in the ultimatum game. Science 300(5626), 1755–1758 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Dawes, C.T., et al.: Neural basis of egalitarian behavior. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 109(17), 6479–6483 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Shaffer, D.W., Ruis, A.R.: Epistemic network analysis: a worked example of theory-based learning analytics. In: Handbook of Learning Analytics (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Rice, J.: Algorithmic outrage. Comput. Compos. 57, 102582 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Jacobs, K., Sandberg, L., Spierings, N.: Twitter and Facebook: populists’ double-barreled gun? New Media Soc. 22(4), 611–633 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Hamblin, J.: My Outrage is Better than Your Outrage. Atlantic, vol. 31 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Zettle, R.D., Hayes, S.C.: Rule-governed behavior: a potential theoretical framework for cognitive-behavioral therapy (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Jemal, A., Bussey, S., Young, B.: Steps to racial reconciliation: a movement to bridge the racial divide and restore humanity. Soc. Work Christianity 47(1) (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Shnabel, N., et al.: Promoting reconciliation through the satisfaction of the emotional needs of victimized and perpetrating group members: the needs-based model of reconciliation. Pers. Soc. Psychol. Bull. 35(8), 1021–1030 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Nadler, A., Shnabel, N.: Instrumental and socioemotional paths to intergroup reconciliation and the needs-based model of socioemotional reconciliation. In: The Social Psychology of Intergroup Reconciliation (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Shaffer, D.: Epistemic frames for epistemic games. Comput. Educ. 46(3), 223–234 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Murphy, P.K., et al.: Examining epistemic frames in conceptual change research: implications for learning and instruction. Asia Pac. Educ. Rev. 13(3), 475–486 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Nash, P., Shaffer, D.W.: Epistemic youth development: Educational games as youth development activities, Vancouver, BC, Canada (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mullen, C.A., et al.: An epistemic frame analysis of neoliberal culture and politics in the US, UK, and the UAE. Interchange 43(3), 187–228 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Shaffer, D.W.: Epistemic games to improve professional skills and values. Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development, Paris (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hart, W., et al.: Feeling validated versus being correct: a meta-analysis of selective exposure to information. Psych. Bull. 135(4), 555 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Shaffer, D.W., et al.: Epistemic network analysis: a prototype for 21st century assessment of learning. Int. J. Learn. Media 1(1), 1–21 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Wooldridge, A.R., et al.: Quantifying the qualitative with epistemic network analysis: a human factors case study of task-allocation communication in a primary care team. IISE Trans. Healthc. Syst. Eng. 8(1), 72–82 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Wisconsin Center for Education Research: Epistemic Analytics Website (2022). Software download at http://epistemicnetwork.org

  23. Orrill, C.H., Shaffer, D.W.: Exploring connectedness: applying ENA to teacher knowledge. In: International Conference of the Learning Sciences (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Brader, T.: The political relevance of emotions: “reassessing” revisited. Polit. Psychol. 32(2), 337–346 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Gross, J.J., Feldman Barrett, L.: Emotion generation and emotion regulation: one or two depends on your point of view. Emot. Rev. 3(1), 8–16 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Gratch, J., Marsella, S.: A domain-independent framework for modeling emotion. Cogn. Syst. Res. 5(4), 269–306 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Zinchenko, A., et al.: Moving towards dynamics: emotional modulation of cognitive and emotional control. Int. J. Psychophysiol. 147, 193–201 (2020)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Luo, J., Yu, R.: Follow the heart or the head? The interactive influence model of emotion and cognition. Front. Psychol. 6(573) (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zmigrod, L., et al.: The psychological roots of intellectual humility: the role of intelligence and cognitive flexibility. Pers. Individ. Differ. 141, 200–208 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Xia, L., Kukar-Kinney, M.: Examining the penalty resolution process: building loyalty through gratitude and fairness. J. Serv. Res. 16(4), 518–532 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Shaffer, D.W.: Quantitative Ethnography. Cathcart Press, Madison (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Shaffer, D.W., Collier, W., Ruis, A.R.: A tutorial on epistemic network analysis: analyzing the structure of connections in cognitive, social, and interaction data. J. Learn. Anal. 3(3), 9–45 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Shaffer, D.W., Ruis, A.R.: Epistemic network analysis: A worked example of theory-based learning analytics. In: Handbook of Learning Analytics (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Marquart, C.L., Hinojosa, C., Swiecki, Z., Eagan, B., Shaffer, D.W.: Epistemic Network Analysis (Version 1.7.0) [Software] (2018). http://app.epistemicnetwork.org

  35. Siebert-Evenstone, A.L., et al.: In search of conversational grain size: modeling semantic structure using moving stanza windows. J. Learn. Anal. 4(3), 123–139 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Arastoopour, G., et al.: Epistemic Network Analysis as a tool for engineering design assessment. In: American Society for Engineering Education (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Sullivan, S., et al.: Using epistemic network analysis to identify targets for educational interventions in trauma team communication. Surgery 163(4), 938–943 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge template language provided by the Wisconsin Center for Education Research for describing statistical results from the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA, 90263, USA

    Eric Hamilton & Andrew Hurford

Authors
  1. Eric Hamilton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrew Hurford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eric Hamilton .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    Crina DamĊŸa

  2. Drexel University School of Education, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Amanda Barany

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

Âİ 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Hamilton, E., Hurford, A. (2023). Political Discourse Modeling with Epistemic Network Analysis and Quantitative Ethnography: Rationale and Examples. In: DamĊŸa, C., Barany, A. (eds) Advances in Quantitative Ethnography. ICQE 2022. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 1785. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31726-2_25

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31726-2_25

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-31725-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-31726-2

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation