Multi-modal Multi-granular Analysis: Exploring Communication Networks under Varying Lenses

Activities in online communities are often distributed across multiple media and sites. Additionally, the granularity at which events are recorded may not match the analytic needs. Since communication is scattered across space, time, and media, and the data comes in a variety of formats, there is no single transcript to inspect and share, and the available data representations may not make interaction and its consequences apparent. We present research that explores a multi-modal multi-granular method of analyzing network and interaction data, and how different levels of granularity reveal unique properties of the network. We utilize various techniques and visualization tools to bridge between levels of analysis and study multiple digital media under different lenses. The analytic techniques are explicated via analysis of interactions in SRI' s T apped In community of educational professionals, followed by implications of our research and areas for future development.