Overview of social movement studies on mobilisation effects of connective action
| Reference* | Context | Impact on mobilisation | Variables and relationships of interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enjolras et al. (2013) | Examines how the use of SM affects participation in offline demonstrations using survey data from Norway | Mobilisation effect of SM use (esp. heavy use) for participants characterised by lower socioeconomic status and younger age | Considers individual-level characteristics with a structural view (mobilising agency) and the supplementary role of SM in comparison with other more established channels |
| Skoric et al. (2016) | Applies a meta-study of research on SM use and political participation and expression in 15 East Asian countries | Mobilisation effect of expressive use of SM and to a lesser degree of informational and relational uses | Examines different types of SM use (i.e. informational, expressive, relational and recreational), political expression and political participation (esp. offline) |
| Boulianne (2015) | Applies a meta-study of research on SM use and political participation based on 36 studies predominantly from established democratic systems | Mobilisation effect suggested but limited evidence on the relationship between SM use and offline collective action (protest-type activities) | Examines relationships between SM use and participation in civic and political life (election campaigns and protest-type activities) across political systems |
| Vaccari et al. (2015) | Examines whether political activities on SM deter from other forms of political engagement (slacktivists thesis) using survey data from Italy | Mobilisation effect of SM use (lower-threshold forms of political engagement), especially amongst the expressive users | Investigates relationships between lower- and higher-threshold political activities (online and offline) |
| Valenzuela (2013) | Examines a path model to protest behaviour using survey data from Chile | Mobilisation effect of SM use for opinion expression and activism (but not for gaining news) | Examines a mediation model including different types of SM use and protest behaviour |
| Wilkins et al. (2019) | Examines causal effects of connective actions on future political action based on a quasi-experimental design | Demobilisation effect of connective actions considering the same cause, but mobilisation effect for other causes under certain conditions (efficacy beliefs) | Calculates moderated mediation models including connective actions and collective actions (offline and online) as well as prior activism experience and efficacy perceptions |
| Schumann and Klein (2015) | Considers whether low-threshold connective actions derail subsequent offline collective actions on the basis of three different experiments | Demobilising effect of low-threshold connective actions (if already considered as a substantial contribution to the group's success) | Focus on different models including low-threshold connective actions, offline collective action willingness, in-group identification and satisfaction of group-enhancing motives |
| Baek (2015) | Investigates factors influencing electoral participation using survey data from South Korean | Mobilising effect of SM use for voting under certain conditions (stimulated by political messages of friends) | Considers type of SNS use, user characteristics and directionality of communication |
| Reference* | Context | Impact on mobilisation | Variables and relationships of interest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examines how the use of SM affects participation in offline demonstrations using survey data from Norway | Mobilisation effect of SM use (esp. heavy use) for participants characterised by lower socioeconomic status and younger age | Considers individual-level characteristics with a structural view (mobilising agency) and the supplementary role of SM in comparison with other more established channels | |
| Applies a meta-study of research on SM use and political participation and expression in 15 East Asian countries | Mobilisation effect of expressive use of SM and to a lesser degree of informational and relational uses | Examines different types of SM use (i.e. informational, expressive, relational and recreational), political expression and political participation (esp. offline) | |
| Applies a meta-study of research on SM use and political participation based on 36 studies predominantly from established democratic systems | Mobilisation effect suggested but limited evidence on the relationship between SM use and offline collective action (protest-type activities) | Examines relationships between SM use and participation in civic and political life (election campaigns and protest-type activities) across political systems | |
| Examines whether political activities on SM deter from other forms of political engagement (slacktivists thesis) using survey data from Italy | Mobilisation effect of SM use (lower-threshold forms of political engagement), especially amongst the expressive users | Investigates relationships between lower- and higher-threshold political activities (online and offline) | |
| Examines a path model to protest behaviour using survey data from Chile | Mobilisation effect of SM use for opinion expression and activism (but not for gaining news) | Examines a mediation model including different types of SM use and protest behaviour | |
| Examines causal effects of connective actions on future political action based on a quasi-experimental design | Demobilisation effect of connective actions considering the same cause, but mobilisation effect for other causes under certain conditions (efficacy beliefs) | Calculates moderated mediation models including connective actions and collective actions (offline and online) as well as prior activism experience and efficacy perceptions | |
| Considers whether low-threshold connective actions derail subsequent offline collective actions on the basis of three different experiments | Demobilising effect of low-threshold connective actions (if already considered as a substantial contribution to the group's success) | Focus on different models including low-threshold connective actions, offline collective action willingness, in-group identification and satisfaction of group-enhancing motives | |
| Investigates factors influencing electoral participation using survey data from South Korean | Mobilising effect of SM use for voting under certain conditions (stimulated by political messages of friends) | Considers type of SNS use, user characteristics and directionality of communication |
Note(s): * - The eight studies listed in this table do not represent an exhaustive list of all research but were selected as representative examples that have been frequently cited in the literature
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