Abstract

Messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger are an essential part of people’s communication practices, but have thus far received only little attention as a tool for data collection. In this article, it is argued that using established messaging apps in audience research can help to better make sense of everyday information and news use practices. Being already integrated into most smartphone users’ daily routines, providing easy-to-use solutions for the sharing of rich and context-sensitive data as well as an instant feedback channel, messaging apps make the documentation of one’s information/news use a familiar and convenient experience for participants that can easily be incorporated into their day-to-day life. Drawing on insights from two research projects focussed on young adults’ information and news use practices, it is illustrated how messaging apps can be utilized in qualitative and mixed-methods diary study designs. Reflecting on methodological and epistemological issues, the advantages and challenges of using messaging apps in audience research are discussed from the researchers’ and the participants’ perspectives.

摘要

WhatsApp 或 Facebook Messenger 等消息应用程序是人们交流实践的重要组成部分，但迄今为止作为数据收集工具很少受到关注。本文认为，在受众研究中使用已建立的消息传递应用程序有助于更好地理解日常信息和新闻使用实践。消息传递应用程序已融入大多数智能手机用户的日常生活，提供易于使用的解决方案来共享丰富和上下文相关的数据以及即时反馈渠道，使个人信息/新闻的文档使用熟悉且易于使用。为参与者提供方便的体验，可以轻松融入他们的日常生活。从两个专注于年轻人信息和新闻使用实践的研究项目中汲取见解，它说明了如何在定性和混合方法的日记研究设计中使用消息传递应用程序。反思方法论和认识论问题，从研究人员和参与者的角度讨论在受众研究中使用消息传递应用程序的优势和挑战。