Vaccines: saving lives or depopulating the world? A discourse analysis
Journal Title: Journal of Comparative Research in Anthropology and Sociology - Year 2010, Vol 1, Issue 1
Abstract
In the present paper, we have analyzed the discourse of four pro and anti-vaccine Facebook pages, in order to understand how the discourse of each party is constructed and to observe the main similarities and differences between them, employing a netnographical approach. Using Netvizz, we have collected data about the three posts with the largest engagement score from each of the four Facebook pages, two being anti, and two pro-vaccine. We have analyzed the discourse of each post in terms of appeal to senses or rationality, types and tone of used language, personal or institutional communication and the appearance of claims in support of alternative medicine, among other indicators. We have noticed that the discourses of pro and anti-vaccine pages have both similarities, the most prominent being the trust / distrust in the health system dichotomy, and differences, best represented by types and sources of argumentation.
Authors and Affiliations
Simona Vulpe, Maria-Steluța Stoian
Keywords
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