Climate science communication on Twitter: A topic modeling analysis of U.S. federal government agencies

Depaula, Nic

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/106591 Copy

Description

Title

Climate science communication on Twitter: A topic modeling analysis of U.S. federal government agencies

Author(s)

Depaula, Nic

Issue Date

2020-03-23

Keyword(s)

• Science communication
• Climate change
• Topic modeling
• Social media
• E-government
• Government communication
• Politicization of science

Abstract

Government agencies have a strong role in communicating science and climate change information to the public. However, the characteristics, factors and implications of this behavior have been scarcely examined in the academic literature. In this brief study I address two research questions. First: Can topic modeling analysis via LDA provide valid topics from the Twitter posts of U.S. federal government science agencies? Secondly: How and to what extent is climate change and climate science information being communicated by these agencies under a political administration hostile to climate change science? This study contributes to the literature on the use of topic modeling analysis of social media information in the government context, and to the literature on the politicization of science communication and government communication.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2020 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/106591

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2020 Nic DePaula

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