Text Topics: Texting in Middle School

• In Event: 4377 - Computational Sociology

Abstract

During the last decade, technology use among adolescents has increased dramatically. The rise of social relationships mediated by technology and the emergence of cyberbullying among adolescents raises questions about both the content and the context of electronic communications. In this research, we use a unique dataset containing text messages sent and received by middle-schoolers and examine the variety of types of topics that these students use in their electronic communications as they interact with texting partners. As part of our topic modeling, we seek to identify constructs associated with interpersonal conflict. Finally, we examine associations among the topics we uncover, with specific attention to links to interpersonal conflict.

Authors

• Anthony Paik, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

• Hsin Fei Tu, University of Massachusetts

• Anthony Rainey, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

• Tanya Rouleau Whitworth, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

• Karen Heimer, University of Iowa

• Octav Chipara, University of Iowa

• Marizen Ramirez, University of Minnesota