DOI: 10.3886/icpsr37679.v1
title: Radicalization on the Internet: Virtual Extremism in the United States, 2015-2017
title: Version 1

description: This study includes three waves of the Online Extremism Survey (collected in 2015, 2016, and 2017) which offers information on a host of issues related to online hate material. Data were collected online from a sample of youths and young adults between the ages of 15 and 36 who voluntarily agreed to participate in research surveys. Survey Sample International (SSI) was used to collect the data. SSI recruits potential participants through random digit dialing, banner ads, and other permission-based techniques. These datasets contain information on exposure to online hate material, targeting by online hate material, production of online hate material, and responses to online hate material, among many additional topics related to online hate. The datasets also contain key demographic information on respondents, including age, gender, race/ethnicity, immigrant status, education, employment status, political ideology, and religious affiliation, among other indicators.
description: The purpose of this study is to examine violent domestic extremists--individuals and groups that "support or commit ideologically motivated violence to further political, social, or religious goals" (U.S. Department of Justice, 2014:4).
description: This study includes two distinct but overlapping methodological paths: (1) Explanatory models (e.g. online surveys) to assess demographic profiles and other characteristics likely associated with the exposure to and/or adoption of extremist ideas via the web (2) Thick description to form a virtual ethnography of extremist profiles and content-focused frame analysis to identify the ways different types of extremist groups or individuals use particular Internet functionalities (i.e. YouTube, home pages, blogs, etc.)
description: The variables for this study contain information on exposure to online hate material, targeting by online hate material, production of online hate material, and responses to online hate material, among many additional topics related to online hate. Additionally, the data includes demographic variables, such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, immigrant status, education, employment status, political ideology, and religious affiliation, among other indicators.
description: Not applicable.
description: Response Rates: Not available.
description: Presence of Common Scales: Several Likert-type scales.
description: Data were collected from demographically balanced panels of people who voluntarily agreed to participate in online research surveys. Survey Sample International (SSI) was used to collect that data. SSI recruits potential participants through random digit dialing, banner ads, and other permission-based techniques. Email invitations were sent to a sample of panel members stratified to reflect the U.S. population between the ages of 15 to 36 on age, gender, and geographic region.
description: Datasets: DS0: Study-Level Files DS1: Online Extremism Survey Data Wave 1 DS2: Online Extremism Survey Data Wave 2 DS3: Online Extremism Survey Data Wave 3 DS4: Virtual Ethnography Data
description: Online users between the ages of 15 and 36 living in the United States. Smallest Geographic Unit: State
description: web-based surveyThis collection includes DS4: Virtual Ethnography Data. This dataset utilizes thick descriptions to form a virtual ethnography of extremist profiles and content-focused frame analysis to identify the ways different types of extremist groups or individuals use particular Internet functionalities (i.e. YouTube, home pages, blogs, etc.). To retain maximum utility, this dataset has been released in its original format.