The document outlines a research study by Shadi Abu-Ayyash focused on online communities and cyberactivism, specifically examining the pro-Palestine activists in Ireland, Scotland, and England. The methodology includes semi-structured interviews, online surveys, and content analysis of digital platforms to explore the nature of online activism, identity bonds, and the relationship dynamics among activists. Expected outcomes include insights into collective identity, the impact of online engagement on offline activism, and factors influencing the strength of activist ties.

1. Researching Online Communities
and Cyberactivism
Methodology
Shadi Abu-Ayyash

2. Research Questions
Examining:
Online Collective Unified Discourse
Identity
Bonds & Ties

3. Study Case: pro-Palestine Activists and Solidarity
Groups
1. Geographical basis: Ireland, Scotland & England

4. 2. Groups in Major Cities
• Example: Groups in Ireland

5. 3.On & Off-Campus Groups

6. 4. Online Activity
websites, blogs, email lists & social media

7. Interviews
-Semi-Structured-
• First Stage:
Pilot Interviews- September 2012: 8 Irish, Scottish
and English Activists
• Second Stage:
Large Scale Interviews-October 2012-Feb.2013

8. Questions Focus
- Offline Activism Element
- Online Activism Involvement
- Nature of Online Content
- Relation Among Cyber Activists
- Expressing Self-Identity and Collective
Identity Online

9. Online Surveys
• Participants:
Targeting university groups and activists who
are much more active online.
• Selection of participants will be based on:
- Internet Activity
- Gender
- Ethnic Background
- Level of University Education
* Using SurveyMonkey

10. Survey Questions
• Constancy of Online Activism
• Time & Effort Contributed to the Cause
Online
• Type of Online Content Posted:
- Organising offline/on ground activities?
- Exchange of Information?

11. Online Content Analysis
• Analysing content of:
- Groups Official Websites
- Content of Newsletter/Press Releases
- Social Media network Groups
- Activists Blogs

12. Online Content Analysis
• Selected Content posted in 2011, 2012 and
2013
• Considering:
- Major Political Events
- Level of Online and Offline Activities

13. Analysing Text, Image and Video
• Terms Used
• Source of Contents: Original, Shared or
Copied from Other Sources
• Does it express all members’ position(s)?
• Comments/replies:
- Positive
- Negative
- Neutral

14. Nvivo
• For organising qualitative data collected
from interviews (text & audio content)
online, and questionnaires
• Nvivo 10 would analyse social media and
webpages content

15. Visualising Data
• Mapping Major Groups in Ireland and Britain
• Online Connectivity Among Transnational Activist
• Online Relation Among Activists in Social Media
Networks
• Groups/Activists Level of Online Involvement

16. NodeXL
* Examining information exchange among activists who are
twittering /tweeting trending topics on Twitter
*Example of connection among users tweeting the phrase welcome2palestine

17. Gephi to visualise ties among FB group
members using Netvizz application
Example of Connectivity among Westminster University-Palestine solidarity
group members on Facebook

18. Expected Outcomes
• Emergence of Cyber Groups Collective
Identity
• Effect of Online Involvement on
Offline/Ground Activism
• What Decides the Strength of Ties Among
Online Activists: Topic, Geography,
Political Position, Level of Participation?

19. In short
RQs Bonds, Identity & Discourse
Data Interviews, Online Surveys & Online Content Analysis
Focus Groups Offline and Online Activity & Geography
Software Nvivo, SurveyMonkey, Gephi, Netvizz & NodeXl
Results 2014/2015

20. Useful Links
• Gephi: https://gephi.org/
• Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/
• Nvivo:http://www.nuigalway.ie/cs/staff/software/n
vivo.html
• Netvizz: http://apps.facebook.com/netvizz/
• NodeXl : http://nodexl.codeplex.com/

21. Thank You

Shadi Abu-Ayyash
Huston School of F & Digital M
ilm edia,
NUIG
shadi.abu-ayyash@nuigalway.ie
http://actdigital.wordpress.com/
@shadi3000