Measuring the Public Agenda using Search Engine Queries

Scharkow, Michael; Vogelgesang, Jens

doi:10.1093/ijpor/edq048

Cited by 130 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…This peak is during the same time that the online interest for the terms 'Measles', 'Mumps', 'Rubella', and 'MMR' also peaks (Figure 1). Overall, as depicted in Figure 6, the online interest for the term 'Anti Vaccine' has significantly increased over the past 13 Vaccine' were not observed, which could be attributed to the time gap for the suggested age between the 1st and 2nd dose of the Measles vaccine. Figure 7 depicts the monthly normalized (measured in a scale from 0 to 100) Google Trends' data in the English term 'Measles' (blue) and its respective translations (red) in all EU28 countries from January 2004 to August 2017 (independent searches, not comparisons).…”

Section: Worldwide Online Interestmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Internet and the Anti-Vaccine Movement: Tracking the 2017 EU Measles Outbreak

Mavragani

Ochoa

2018

BDCC

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Abstract:In the Internet Era of information overload, how does the individual filter and process available knowledge? In addressing this question, this paper examines the behavioral changes in the online interest in terms related to Measles and the Anti-Vaccine Movement from 2004 to 2017, in order to identify any relationships between the decrease in immunization percentages, the Anti-Vaccine Movement, and the increased reported Measles cases. The results show that statistically significant positive correlations exist between monthly Measles cases and Google queries in the respective translated terms in most EU28 countries from January 2011 to August 2017. Furthermore, a strong negative correlation (p < 0.01) exists between the online interest in the term 'Anti Vaccine' and the Worldwide immunization percentages from 2004 to 2016. The latter could be supportive of previous work suggesting that conspiracist ideation is related to the rejection of scientific propositions. As Measles require the highest immunization percentage out of the vaccine preventable diseases, the 2017 EU outbreak could be the first of several other diseases' outbreaks or epidemics in the near future should the immunization percentages continue to decrease. Big Data Analytics in general and the analysis of Google queries in specific have been shown to be valuable in addressing health related topics up to this point. Therefore, analyzing the variations and patterns of available online information could assist health officials with the assessment of reported cases, as well as taking the required preventive actions.

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Section: Worldwide Online Interestmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Internet and the Anti-Vaccine Movement: Tracking the 2017 EU Measles Outbreak

Mavragani

Ochoa

2018

BDCC

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“…In particular, the number of scientific publications including Google Trends data has grown steadily in the areas of epidemiology and public health (Nuti et al, 2014). Some public opinion scholars have pioneered the use of Google Trends as a 'salience' barometer (Scharkow & Vogelsgang, 2011;Scheitle, 2011). Yet, so far the application of this tool in political and public communication research has been much more limited than in other fields.…”

Section: Google Trends: Opportunities and Drawbacksmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Google voter: search engines and elections in the new media ecology

Trevisan

Hoskins

Oates

et al. 2016

Information, Communication & Society

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“…As such, collecting data on Google rather than Yahoo or Bing 4 searches yields the largest cross-section to the Internet-using population. Second, the vast majority of social scientists, and scientists in other disciplines such as epidemiology, utilizing search-based measures of public attention have used Google Insights, further validating the data studies (Granka 2013;Mellon 2013;Reilly, Richey, and Taylor 2012;Scharkow and Vogelgesang 2011;Scheitle 2011;Gruszczynski and Wagner 2010;Ayers, Rubisl, and Brownstein 2011;Askitas and Zimmermann 2009;Pelat et al 2009;Koehler-Derrick 2013;Mccallum and Bury 2013;Ragas and Tran 2013;Zheluk et al 2013). Finally, we decided to use Google Trends because it is freely available and easy to access, enhancing the ability of future researchers to replicate and expand upon this research.…”

Section: Explanatory Variable -Public Attentionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Attention and Head-to-Head Campaign Fundraising: An Examination of U.S. Senate Elections

Ellis

Ripberger

Swearingen

2017

ARP

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Does public attention to political candidates impact fundraising margins in U.S. Senate elections? Applying a novel conceptualization of public attention, we examine U.S. Senate elections from 2004 through 2014 and find that increases in relative public attention relate to increases in head-to-head fundraising margins in open seat races. We conclude by asking whether or not all attention to candidates is "good" attention. Evidence from the 2006 Allen/Webb election suggests that all attention is not "good" attention. This race demonstrates that candidates can supply attention-grabbing action that increases relative public attention while stimulating exceptional losses in relative fundraising margins. Further research must clearly theorize conditions under which supplying public attention-grabbing behavior may damage political campaigns.

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Measuring the Public Agenda using Search Engine Queries

Cited by 130 publications

References 13 publications

The Internet and the Anti-Vaccine Movement: Tracking the 2017 EU Measles Outbreak

The Internet and the Anti-Vaccine Movement: Tracking the 2017 EU Measles Outbreak

The Google voter: search engines and elections in the new media ecology

Public Attention and Head-to-Head Campaign Fundraising: An Examination of U.S. Senate Elections

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