Using Bibliometric and Social Media Analyses to Explore the "Echo Chamber" Hypothesis. (March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goldie, David; Linick, Matthew; Jabbar, Huriya; Lubienski, Christopher
• Other Names: Lubienski Christopher guest-editor.; Scott Janelle guest-editor.; DeBray Elizabeth guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Educational policy. Volume 28:Number 2(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 281
• Page End: 305
• Publication Date: 2014-03
• Subjects: bibliometrics -- intermediary organizations -- social media -- research use -- school vouchers -- charter schools; Education and state -- United States -- Periodicals; Education -- Periodicals; 379.2
• DOI: 10.1177/0895904813515330
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-9048

Abstract

Educational policy debates are no longer occurring exclusively in academic or governmental settings. Intermediary actors are promoting research using a variety of traditional and non-traditional media to advance and oppose policy agendas. Given the current policy arena, it is useful to re-examine the research underlying current reforms, and to determine whether there is an "echo-chamber" effect, where a small, or unrepresentative, sample of studies is repeatedly cited to create momentum around a policy proposal. In exploring the echo-chamber hypothesis, we focus on two distinct methodologies. Using bibliometric methods and examining social media activity by intermediary organizations, our preliminary evidence suggests the presence of an echo-chamber effect in policy debates.