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Diaspora Social Movements in Cyberspace: Epistemological and Ethnographic Considerations

Stearmer, Steven Matthew, Ph.D
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1457-7698
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1460658606

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Sociology.
The concept that social networks impact individual and organizational choices is as old as Sociology itself. Theorist from Durkheim to Simmel, and Weber to Parsons have all struggled with how to quantify and measure the real or imagined influence of social structures on individual choice. Network analysis proceeds from a similar framework as structuralism in that is assumes that the choices of one individual will be constrained by their place within the broader interconnectivity of the other actors. Interpretation then is based on the assumption that one’s networks can be categorized, and that the meaning derived from that network are the same for all individuals within it. Several theoretical papers call these assumptions into question, but researchers examining online networks, especially from an international social movement perspective, have yet to examine their methods to verify that they capture the full extent of online networks, and if everyone associated with the network understands their place in it the same way. Our ability to gather and analyze data far outstrips our theorizing. In this dissertation I will examine the assumptions about what constitutes a network based on current collection techniques and show the current methods produce a systemic bias that cannot account for the entire issue based network, leading to errors in interpretation and the false identification of movement leaders. The new method, called Query Driven Sampling (QDS), uses webmaster tools to accurately record the missing inbound links and more fully complete the network compared to the outbound/co-link method. The second chapter will examine online Kurdish activism using the QDS method. With this method I demonstrate how online social activists within diasporic settings react differently to perceived risk even within the same ethnic community. In the final chapter I ask Kurdish activists to explain from their perspective, how they conceptualize, interact and grow their activist network. Results from these analyses challenge the ability of current methods to accurately define what constitutes a network, to properly identify the key actors within the network, and correctly identify how state level immigration policies influence offline security and how understand how this translates into online behavior.
Craig Jenkins, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Andrew Martin, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Vincent Roscigno, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
133 p.
Sociology
Network Analysis, Ethnic Social Movements, Kurd, Online Networks

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Stearmer, S. M. (2016). Diaspora Social Movements in Cyberspace: Epistemological and Ethnographic Considerations [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1460658606

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Stearmer, Steven. Diaspora Social Movements in Cyberspace: Epistemological and Ethnographic Considerations. 2016. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1460658606.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Stearmer, Steven. "Diaspora Social Movements in Cyberspace: Epistemological and Ethnographic Considerations." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1460658606

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1460658606
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© 2016, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.