Correlating Self-Report and Trace Data Measures of Incivility: A Proof of Concept. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hopp, Toby; Vargo, Chris J.; Dixon, Lucas; Thain, Nithum
• Other Names: Stier Sebastian guest-editor.; Siegers Pascal guest-editor.; Breuer Johannes guest-editor.; Thorson Kjerstin guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Social science computer review. Volume 38:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 584
• Page End: 599
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: incivility -- political discussion -- toxicity -- survey -- computational social sciences; Social sciences -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Computers -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Microcomputers -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Micro-ordinateurs -- Périodiques; 300.285
• DOI: 10.1177/0894439318814241
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0894-4393

Abstract

This study correlated self-report and trace data measures of political incivility. Specifically, we asked respondents to provide estimates of the degree to which they engage in uncivil political communication online. These estimates were then compared to computational measures of uncivil social media discussion behavior. The results indicated that those who self-disclose uncivil online behavior also tend to generate content on social media that is uncivil as identified by Google's Perspective application programming interface. Taken as a whole, this work suggests that combining self-report and behavioral trace data may be a fruitful means of developing multimethod measures of complex communication behaviors.