Capturing Citizens’ Opinions Through a Combination of Survey and Online Social Data

Authors

  • Manuela Farinosi Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics, University of Udine
  • Leopoldina Fortunati Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics, University of Udine
  • John O'Sullivan School of Communications, Dublin City University
  • Laura Pagani Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Udine

Keywords:

political participation, civic engagement, online social data, survey, mixed methods, urban planning, inclusive process

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the debate on citizen participation by illustrating, with an operational example, how it may be more effectively achieved using a combination of survey and online social data. We focus on a project the purpose of which was to arrive at a formulation of planning policies based on a sharing process between the council and citizens of the small municipality of Peccioli in Tuscany, Italy. The aim was to increase participation by collecting opinions on long-term projects. The combination of survey and online social data enabled the collection of more accurate insights on participation, providing the municipality with a reliable representation of citizens’ sentiments and opinions. This article, although locally rooted, demonstrates how planning authorities more widely can enhance participation by taking advantage of both analog and digital methods. 

Author Biographies

Manuela Farinosi, Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics, University of Udine

Manuela Farinosi, PhD in Multimedia Communication, is a researcher in the Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics at the University of Udine, Italy. Her academic interests include social and cultural aspects of digital technologies, participatory media, and sociology of disaster. She teaches courses in Sociology of communication, Theories and techniques of digital media and Economic sociology.

Leopoldina Fortunati, Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics, University of Udine

Leopoldina Fortunati is professor of Sociology of culture and communication and director of the Research Laboratory for New Media (NuMe) at the University of Udine. She has conducted several research in the field of gender studies, cultural processes and communication and information technologies. Her works have been published in twelve languages.

John O'Sullivan, School of Communications, Dublin City University

John O’Sullivan is a lecturer and researcher in journalism, media and technology at the School of Communications, Dublin City University. His research interests have centered on the interplay of professional journalism with digital technologies and on the uses of media platforms.

Laura Pagani, Department of Economics and Statistics, University of Udine

Laura Pagani is Associate Professor of Statistics in the Department of Economics and Statistics at the University of Udine. She graduated in Political Sciences at the University of Milan, and received her PhD in Methodological Statistics from the University of Trento. Her research interests include models for categorical data analysis, event history analysis for historical demographic data, multilevel models, data reduction models for categorical variables (Nonlinear Principal Component Analysis), Rasch models.

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Published

2020-06-18

Issue

Vol. 14 (2020)

Section

Articles

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