Gespeichert in:
Bibliographische Detailangaben
Hauptverfasser: Peng, Tai-Quan, Zhu, Jonathan J. H.
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2023
Schlagworte:
Online-Zugang:https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.05996
Tags: Tag hinzufügen
Keine Tags, Fügen Sie den ersten Tag hinzu!
_version_ 1866915884331696128
author Peng, Tai-Quan
Zhu, Jonathan J. H.
author_facet Peng, Tai-Quan
Zhu, Jonathan J. H.
contents Timestamps in digital traces include significant detailed information on when human behaviors occur, which is universally available and standardized in all types of digital traces. Nevertheless, the concept of time is under-explicated in empirical studies of online behaviors. This paper discusses the (un)desirable properties of timestamps in digital traces and summarizes how timestamps in digital traces have been utilized in existing studies of online behaviors. The paper argues that time-in-behaviors perspective can provide a microscope with a renovated temporal lens to observe and understand online behaviors. Going beyond the traditional behaviors-in-time perspective, time-in-behaviors perspective enables empirical examination of online behaviors from multiple units of analysis (e.g., discrete behaviors, behavioral sessions, and behavioral trajectories) and from multiple dimensions (e.g., duration, order, transition, rhythm). The paper shows the potentials of the time-in-behaviors perspective with several empirical cases and proposes future directions in explicating the concept of time in computational social science.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2301_05996
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Understanding Online Behaviors through a Temporal Lens
Peng, Tai-Quan
Zhu, Jonathan J. H.
Computers and Society
Timestamps in digital traces include significant detailed information on when human behaviors occur, which is universally available and standardized in all types of digital traces. Nevertheless, the concept of time is under-explicated in empirical studies of online behaviors. This paper discusses the (un)desirable properties of timestamps in digital traces and summarizes how timestamps in digital traces have been utilized in existing studies of online behaviors. The paper argues that time-in-behaviors perspective can provide a microscope with a renovated temporal lens to observe and understand online behaviors. Going beyond the traditional behaviors-in-time perspective, time-in-behaviors perspective enables empirical examination of online behaviors from multiple units of analysis (e.g., discrete behaviors, behavioral sessions, and behavioral trajectories) and from multiple dimensions (e.g., duration, order, transition, rhythm). The paper shows the potentials of the time-in-behaviors perspective with several empirical cases and proposes future directions in explicating the concept of time in computational social science.
title Understanding Online Behaviors through a Temporal Lens
topic Computers and Society
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.05996