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Analyzing the semantic content and persuasive composition of extremist media: A case study of texts produced during the Gaza conflict

Author

Listed:
  • Sheryl Prentice

    (Lancaster University)

  • Paul J. Taylor

    (Lancaster University)

  • Paul Rayson

    (Lancaster University)

  • Andrew Hoskins

    (Nottingham University)

  • Ben O’Loughlin

    (Royal Holloway)

Abstract

While terrorism informatics research has examined the technical composition of extremist media, there is less work examining the content and intent behind such media. We propose that the arguments and issues presented in extremist media provide insights into authors’ intent, which in turn may provide an evidence-base for detecting and assessing risk. We explore this possibility by applying two quantitative text-analysis methods to 50 online texts that incite violence as a result of the 2008/2009 Israeli military action in Gaza and the West Bank territories. The first method—a content coding system that identifies the occurrence of persuasive devices—revealed a predominance of moral proof arguments within the texts, and evidence for distinguishable ‘profiles’ of persuasion use across different authors and different group affiliations. The second method—a corpus-linguistic technique that identifies the core concepts and narratives that authors use—confirmed the use of moral proof to create an in-group/out-group divide, while also demonstrating a movement from general expressions of discontent to more direct audience-orientated expressions of violence as conflict heightened. We conclude that multi-method analyses are a valuable approach to building both an evidence-based understanding of terrorist media use and a valid set of applications within terrorist informatics.

Suggested Citation

  • Sheryl Prentice & Paul J. Taylor & Paul Rayson & Andrew Hoskins & Ben O’Loughlin, 2011. "Analyzing the semantic content and persuasive composition of extremist media: A case study of texts produced during the Gaza conflict," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 61-73, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:infosf:v:13:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1007_s10796-010-9272-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10796-010-9272-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Scott Atran, 2005. "The 'Virtual Hand' of Jihad," Post-Print ijn_00000606, HAL.
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    Cited by:

    1. Brian A Jackson & David R Frelinger & Jennifer Kavanagh & Brett A Wallace, 2021. "Adaptation by intelligent adversaries to defensive measures: framing adaptation options and demonstrating assessment of attacker preferences using proxy intelligence data," The Journal of Defense Modeling and Simulation, , vol. 18(2), pages 61-85, April.
    2. Yanxin Wang & Jian Li & Xi Zhao & Gengzhong Feng & Xin (Robert) Luo, 2020. "Using Mobile Phone Data for Emergency Management: a Systematic Literature Review," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 22(6), pages 1539-1559, December.
    3. Chulhwan Chris Bang, 2015. "Information systems frontiers: Keyword analysis and classification," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 217-237, February.
    4. Hsinchun Chen & Yilu Zhou & Edna F. Reid & Catherine A. Larson, 2011. "Introduction to special issue on terrorism informatics," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-3, March.

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