Expanding Our Methodological Toolbox: The “Place” of Twitter in the Ethnographic Endeavor

Deana Simonetto

doi:10.18778/1733-8077.12.1.05

Authors

Deana Simonetto McMaster University, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1733-8077.12.1.05

Keywords:

Social Media, Twitter, Methodological Toolbox, Sources of Data, Canadian Football League

Abstract

Social media have been increasingly embraced by social actors inhabiting a wide range of social worlds, including the world of professional sports. This paper argues that Twitter has become an indispensible resource for sociologists seeking to better understand these worlds. Using data collected for a study of the Canadian Football League (CFL), the paper contrasts traditional interviews and Twitter as sources of data. This is followed by a discussion of both the unique advantages and limitations of Twitter data in research. The paper ends by encouraging an expansion of sociology’s methodological toolbox to include this form of social media.

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Author Biography

Deana Simonetto, McMaster University, Canada

Deana Simonetto is currently completing her PhD in Sociology at McMaster University. Her theoretical areas of interest include symbolic interactionism and social constructionism as these are applied to areas of sport and deviance. Using a qualitative methodology, her dissertation explores the relationship between professional sport culture and family life, specifically focusing on athletes’ spouses.

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