What does the phenomenon of Internet memes represent? Are they merely viral jokes on the Internet or a complex system that can exert considerable influence on individuals and the society? Researchers attach importance to this topic, and the body of research on Internet memes is growing. But what types of memes are investigated, and with what approaches? And what insights did researchers generate? In summary, this overarching question arises:
What is the current state of the body of research on Internet memes?
The study described in the following report aims at answering this question by conducting a literature review. This approach will be beneficial, since “an effective review creates a firm foundation for advancing knowledge. It facilitates theory development, closes areas where a plethora of research exists, and uncovers areas where research is needed” (Webster & Watson, 2002). To the knowledge of the author, no literature review was applied on the body of research on Internet memes so far. By closing this gap in research, this study will provide valuable insights for future research on Internet memes.
First, the research report will outline the emergence and the present understanding of the term ‘meme’ and establish the subordinate research questions which will guide the analysis. Next, the methodological procedure will be elucidated comprehensively. After describing the data collection and analysis procedure, the report illustrates the results of the examination. Then the findings are summarized and discussed with regard to the overarching research question. Finally, this report concludes with proposals for future research projects on the phenomenon of Internet memes.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Understanding Internet memes
3. Methods
3.1 Sample and data collection
3.2 Coding procedure
4. Results
4.1 Which kinds of Internet memes are examined over time?
4.2 To what extent does research examine (a) content-related, (b) process-related, and (c) diffusion-related aspects of Internet memes?
4.3 In which theoretical contexts does research examine Internet memes?
4.4 Which designs and methods does research apply to examine Internet memes?
4.5 Which analytical strategies does research apply to analyse meme-related data?
4.6 How has the knowledge construction of Internet meme research developed?
5. Discussion
6. Conclusion
7. References
8. Appendix
8.1 Coding scheme
8.2 Research material and assigned keys
Research Goal and Objectives
This report aims to determine the current state of academic research on Internet memes by conducting a systematic literature review. It seeks to identify which aspects of memes are investigated, what theoretical frameworks are utilized, and which methodological approaches are applied in the existing body of literature.
- Thematic focus and genre classification of studied memes.
- Evaluation of content-related, process-related, and diffusion-related research dimensions.
- Theoretical context and definitions surrounding Internet memes.
- Methodological rigorousness and analytical strategies in meme research.
- Knowledge development and spatial distribution of research efforts.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
What does the phenomenon of Internet memes represent? Are they merely viral jokes on the Internet (Burgess, 2008, p. 1) or a complex system that can exert considerable influence on individuals and the society (Diedrichsen, 2019, p. 254)? Researchers attach importance to this topic, and the body of research on Internet memes is growing (Johann & Bülow, 2019, p. 1721). But what types of memes are investigated, and with what approaches? And what insights did researchers generate? In summary, this overarching question arises:
What is the current state of the body of research on Internet memes?
The study described in the following report aims at answering this question by conducting a literature review. This approach will be beneficial, since “an effective review creates a firm foundation for advancing knowledge. It facilitates theory development, closes areas where a plethora of research exists, and uncovers areas where research is needed” (Webster & Watson, 2002, p. 13). To the knowledge of the author, no literature review was applied on the body of research on Internet memes so far. By closing this gap in research, this study will provide valuable insights for future research on Internet memes.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the significance of Internet memes and establishes the research gap for a systematic literature review on the existing body of research.
2. Understanding Internet memes: Reviews theoretical perspectives on memes, starting from Dawkins' biological concept to contemporary definitions focusing on Web 2.0 and participatory culture.
3. Methods: Details the systematic sampling and qualitative content analysis methodology used to curate and examine 31 relevant research articles.
4. Results: Presents the findings regarding topics, research dimensions (content, process, diffusion), theoretical contexts, and methodological strategies used in the field.
5. Discussion: Synthesizes the results, highlighting deficiencies in methodological rigour and the lack of broad-scope research while acknowledging the valuable contributions to social and political discourse.
6. Conclusion: Summarizes the key insights and provides actionable recommendations for future research to improve quality, diversity, and theoretical integration.
7. References: Provides the comprehensive bibliography of all cited academic works.
8. Appendix: Contains the detailed coding scheme, category definitions, and the list of analysed research papers with assigned keys.
Keywords
Internet memes, Literature review, Qualitative content analysis, Shifman, Meme genre, Participatory culture, Digital diffusion, Research methodology, Theoretical context, Meme classification, Web 2.0, Political discourse, Knowledge construction, Academic research, Systematic review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of the research report?
The report provides a comprehensive systematic literature review aimed at determining the "current state of the body of research on Internet memes," specifically examining how researchers define, study, and classify this phenomenon.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The research mainly covers social issues (sexism, racism, protests), political topics (populism, elections), and to a lesser extent, economic or organisational perspectives.
What is the specific research goal?
The goal is to close the existing gap in literature by systematically analysing how memes are researched, including the theories applied and the methodological transparency of the studies.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a structuring qualitative content analysis based on the Mayring model to evaluate 31 peer-reviewed articles published between 2004 and 2020.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers the thematic distribution of meme research, the three-dimensional aspect of memes (content, process, diffusion), theoretical foundations, research designs/methods, and the formal characteristics of meme studies.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Internet memes, Literature review, Qualitative content analysis, Participatory culture, Digital diffusion, and Knowledge construction.
How does the report view the maturity of current meme research?
The report notes that while the body of research is growing, it suffers from methodological deficiencies, such as vague research questions and a lack of transparency regarding analytical procedures.
What specific proposals for future research does the author make?
The author calls for higher quality standards, international collaboration to increase cultural diversity, and more "groundwork research" to develop robust, broad-scope classification systems and measuring tools.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Hanna Schneider (Autor:in), 2021, One does not simply summarize previous studies. A systematic review of research on internet memes, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1327975
