Methods in social movement research

Question 1

How do discourse and frame analysis differ?

Answer 1

• Discourse analysis examines language, ideology, and power
• frame analysis focuses on strategic rationality in interpreting and making meaning.

Question 2

How is discourse analysis used in social movement studies?

Answer 2

• Discourse refers to the production, dissemination, and reception of texts that shape the meaning of objects and phenomena.
• examines how movement texts (e.g., press releases, websites) are composed and received within their discursive context

Question 3

How do activists use discourse strategically?

Answer 3

• They connect their issues to larger discourses (e.g., human rights, justice) to resonate with audiences and mobilize support.
• align with dominant discourses (e.g., republicanism, multiculturalism) to increase their chances of success

Question 4

How does discourse analysis examine power dynamics?

Answer 4

It highlights struggles over dominant narratives, such as state repression framed as legitimate law enforcement versus illegitimate oppression.

Question 5

What is frame analysis?

Answer 5

• A method that examines how ideas, culture, and ideology shape understanding of situations or phenomena
• studies how specific ideas mobilize people and influence participation.
• Success depends on resonance—how well frames connect with audiences and political contexts

Question 6

What is frame variation?

Answer 6

The same ideology can be used to frame a phenomenon differently depending on the context.

Question 7

Why are in-depth interviews important in social sciences?

Answer 7

They help understand motives, beliefs, attitudes, identities, and emotions, especially in social movement studies where systematic data is limited.

Question 8

What is a key characteristic of qualitative interviews?

Answer 8

often open-ended and unstructured, though a clear research question is still essential

Question 9

Why is police interaction with protesters important in social movement research?

Answer 9

• represents the state’s response to dissent and affects public order.
• Organizational resources, professional culture, and political climate influence police action

Question 10

What is participant observation?

Answer 10

• method where researchers immerse themselves in a social movement to gather firsthand data.
• allows researchers to systematically describe protests, sit-ins, and other behaviors.

Question 11

What are the core aspects of participant observation?

Answer 11

1. Collecting Firsthand Data – Engaging directly in the field.
2. Observation Scale – shifts focus from macro-level collective behaviors to individual actions and interactions.
3. Experiencing – integrating into the group to grasp the contradictions, stakes, and social expectations experienced by participants

Question 12

How does participant observation challenge the illusion of homogeneity in social movements?

Answer 12

• reveals diverse roles and motivations, showing the complexity of movement organizations.