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Methodologies in Peace Psychology pp 345–357Cite as

Using the Internet and Social Media in Peace Psychology Research

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Part of the book series: Peace Psychology Book Series ((PPBS,volume 26))

Abstract

Recent advances in information technology have given rise not only to alternative ways of peacebuilding but also to new methods in peace research. This chapter explains methodological strategies related to the interface between peace psychology and Internet. We first differentiate between an experimental-survey and an ethnographic-field approach to peace psychology, and then nuance the procedures for both methods. Experimental and survey approaches use the Internet primarily for data collection. Where time or human safety is of prime concern in a peace research, the Internet provides speed and anonymity, especially for participants who live in contentious and dangerous territories. Researchers can collect online survey data in various ways such as emailing the instrument directly to the respondent, inviting participants through Facebook, or setting up a website that hosts the survey questionnaire. An ethnographic-field approach to peace psychology needs to be sensitized to online political configurations in the virtual field. We elaborate on the nature of the Internet as a political space and clarify how virtual space interacts with the social realities of peace and conflict. Further, we look at how the internet caters to the needs of both the marginalized and the status quo holders. We conclude our chapter by explaining conventional and new ways by which one can collect and analyze peace data found on the Internet. Three of the most prominent research strategies are case studies; content analysis of text, videos, images, and audios; and computational social science methods like data mining and social network analysis.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Samizdat is “system in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and countries within its orbit by which government-suppressed literature was clandestinely printed and distributed” (Retrieved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/samizdat).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology, Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City, Philippines

    Cristina Jayme Montiel, Arvin Boller & Feric L. Galvez

Authors
  1. Cristina Jayme Montiel
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  2. Arvin Boller
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  3. Feric L. Galvez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cristina Jayme Montiel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia

    Diane Bretherton

  2. Victoria University, Melbournne, Victoria, Australia

    Siew Fang Law

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Montiel, C., Boller, A., Galvez, F. (2015). Using the Internet and Social Media in Peace Psychology Research. In: Bretherton, D., Law, S. (eds) Methodologies in Peace Psychology. Peace Psychology Book Series, vol 26. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18395-4_18

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