Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Threads of Deliberation: A Textual Analysis of Online News Comments

McMillen, Suzanne R.

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Journalism (Communication).
This thesis is an exploratory study into the deliberative properties of social interaction in online comment threads. The sample for this study is online comment threads collected from three different online news sites (thehill.com, thenation.com, and thenationalreview.com). The study builds upon existing theoretical literature on public deliberation and applies it to the subject of online comments. It also employs a method of textual analysis to address a gap in empirical research of comments where comments are studied in relation to those around them rather than as separate units of analysis. The comments analyzed show evidence of informal conversational style and show three common themes of social interaction: tolerance for hostility, encouraging quality debate, and a value of information exchanges.
Bill Reader (Committee Chair)
92 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McMillen, S. R. (2013). Threads of Deliberation: A Textual Analysis of Online News Comments [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1368025601

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McMillen, Suzanne. Threads of Deliberation: A Textual Analysis of Online News Comments. 2013. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1368025601.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McMillen, Suzanne. "Threads of Deliberation: A Textual Analysis of Online News Comments." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1368025601

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)