Comparative Scientometric Analysis in Social Media: What Can We Learn? And What Is Next? - Information and Communication Technologies in Public Administration - page 111

table 5.5 (Continued) Research topics and theories Used

Research Topics Theories

Agenda setting theory

Mediatization theory

Diffusion of innovation theory

Cognitive dissonance theory

b. Social media use for
reducing inequalities,
enhancing democracy, and
increasing participation

Cognitive dissonance theory

Democratic theory

New media theory

Social network theory

Domestication theory

Convergence culture

Inglehart's postmaterialist theory

Political communication theory

Habermas theory

Two step flow of communication

Incidental byproduct model of learning
theory

Political engagement gateway theory

Public sphere and representation theories

Lasswell's policy sciences

Source: Own elaboration.

The main social media used are social networking, Facebook (37.84% coun-
try level, 31.46% central government level, and 33.33% local government level;
see Table 5.6), followed closely by microblogging, Twitter (31.08% country level,
35.96% central government level, and 25.00% local government level). In addi-
tion, state and local public administrations use multimedia sharing YouTube, and
Flickr is used by municipalities. In general, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flicker,
MySpace, and LinkedIn are the most widespread social media technologies in
bureaucracies.

RQ4: What research methodologies are employed in analyzing social media?