Big Data, Analysis of

Big data analysis has the potential to advance theories and methods in social science. The power of big data does not only come from its large volume but also from its capacity to carry rich dimensions of information for statistical analysis. In this entry the temporal, semantic, and structural information embedded in big data is discussed, and the mainstream analytical strategies to address such information in communication research, particularly media psychology, are outlined. The critical challenges in the analysis of big data are emphasized.