Big Data in the Study of Political Participation

Big Data are transforming the field of political participation studies. Broadly defined as data resources characterized by higher than ever volume, velocity, and variety, they provide unique resources to map and track contemporary datafied societies and hybrid political participation patterns that mix older and newer forms of engagement. Taking a critical approach, this chapter discusses both the potentials and the challenges that Big Data raise for studying political participation. Its main claim is that Big Data, particularly those coming from social media, can take political participation studies further than ever only if their inclusion within research courses is piloted by a research orientation that bears ontological awareness, endorses epistemological proactivity and grounds in methodological creativity. After illustrating the features that contribute to mark the uniqueness of Big Data, the chapter reviews the most salient traits of this distinctive research orientation.