Comparative Scientometric Analysis in Social Media: What Can We Learn? And What Is Next? - Information and Communication Technologies in Public Administration - page 114

RQ5: Are there differences in social media research among American, European,
and Asian countries?

Regarding the methodologies used in different countries, there are not many
differences (see Table 5.8). Qualitative tools are more common than quantitative
ones in all cases, although these ones are used more often when researchers analyzed
Asian countries. In this sense, the most frequently used qualitative tools are case
studies in all cases, followed distantly by content analysis. In the case of European
countries analysis, research used legal statutory approach when examining laws
that regulate disclosure of information, review content online, person responsible
for answering certain questions, and so on.
In the case of quantitative methodologies, results are very similar to those above.
Regression analysis is the quantitative methodology most commonly employed in
all cases. Structure equation model is used more often when scholars and research-
ers analyzed Asian countries and determinants that promote online participation
(see Table 5.7).
The main social media topics are how social media improve interactions with
citizens through dialogue, citizen engagement, and online participation in all cases,
although they are higher in European countries. In the case of the United States,
academics are very interested in examining how social media improved public ser-
vices delivery (see Table 5.8).

table 5.8 Main Social Media topics in Different Countries

United
States Research Topics Asia Europe

1. Disclosure information and
transparency

15.91% 16.67% 10.34%

2. Delivery public services 20.45% — 10.34%

3. Legal and regulatory aspects 4.55% — 3.45%

4. Social media in general terms 11.36% — —

5. Organizational theory and reforms — 16.67% 3.45%

6. Electronic participation 47.72% 66.66% 72.42%

a. Use of social media by politicians in
election campaigns (e-Campaign)

20.45% 33.33% 24.14%

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

27.27% 33.33% 48.28%

Source: Own elaboration.