Comparative Scientometric Analysis in Social Media: What Can We Learn? And What Is Next? - Information and Communication Technologies in Public Administration - page 112

table 5.6 Social networks Analyzed in the Different Levels of Governments

Social
Network

Central
Government Level

Local Government
Level

Country Level Total

Facebook 37.84% 31.46% 33.33% 34.12%

Twitter 31.08% 35.96% 25.00% 31.75%

YouTube 5.41% 15.73% 20.83% 13.27%

Flickr 6.76% 3.37% 10.42% 6.16%

MySpace 9.46% 2.25% 2.08% 4.74%

LinkedIn 2.70% 3.37% 8.33% 3.79%

Google + 2.70% 2.25% — 1.90%

Others 4.05% a 6.74% b — 4.27%

Source: Own elaboration.

a

Dodgeball, Bebo, and Cyworld.

b

Me2day, Hyves, Foursquare, Tumblr, and Daum.

Focusing on the methodology used in these articles addressing social media, we
observed a preference for the use of empirical research methods (93.46%, 100/107;
see Table 5.7). The remaining 6.54% (7/107) of the articles concern nonempirical
studies, most of which are traditional literature reviews, followed by critical reviews
and discussions.
Among the empirical methods used, qualitative tools (51.40%, 55/107) are more
common than quantitative ones (42.06%, 45/107; Table 5.7). The most frequently used
qualitative instruments are case studies (47.27%, 26/55), followed distantly by other
methods such as content analysis (20.00%, 11/55) and social network analysis (7.27%,
4/55). In addition, many articles described the use of bibliometrics tools, webmetrics-
hyperlinks, and meta-analysis (Gayo-Avello, 2013; Meraz, 2013; Tkach-Kawasaki,
2011; Vergeer, 2012). These tools allow data to be updated and clearer conclusions to
be drawn and highlight any conceptual and theoretical weaknesses present in previous
studies. Moreover, the actual progress of research on a particular topic can be assessed.
Methodological tools such as meta-synthesis and meta-analysis are used to integrate
diverse studies with common goals, thus providing objective evidence and enabling
reliable conclusions to be drawn, benefiting present and future research.
Regression analysis is the quantitative methodology most commonly employed
(62.22%, 28/45), followed by logistic regression analysis (11.11%, 5/45; see Table 5.7).
Regression analyses are widely used in all these fields of e-government research, but
especially when the researcher examines the question of citizens' participation in pub-
lic policy making or seeks to identify the factors that enhance the disclosure of eco-
nomic and financial information or those acting to reduce the incidence of corruption.