Collective Sensemaking in Social Media: A Case Study of the H7N9 Flu Pandemic in China

Zhang, Pengyi; Gao, Duohuai

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/47381 Copy

Description

Title

Collective Sensemaking in Social Media: A Case Study of the H7N9 Flu Pandemic in China

Author(s)

• Zhang, Pengyi
• Gao, Duohuai

Issue Date

2014-03-01

Keyword(s)

• collective sensemaking
• microblogging
• gap identification and bridging
• emergency response
• H7N9

Abstract

This exploratory research studies microblog users' collective sensemaking process in response to a public health threat - the developing H7N9 flu pandemic in China. We examined question-bearing microblogs and responses during the course of 31 days after the first confirmed cases were reported. We found that: 1) different gaps were present during the 5 uncertainty phrases; 2) many topical gaps appear at both collective and individual levels; 3) users employed multiple approaches to deal with and bridge the gaps. The results suggested that users used social media as a platform for collective sensemaking and collaboration among different types of users may help to best utilize social media as a platform for reducing uncertainty and promoting information openness and transparency in such cases.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2014 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

english

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/47381

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9776/14259

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2014 is held by the authors of individual items in the proceedings. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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