TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to propose new directions for human resource management (HRM) research by drawing attention to online data as a complementary data source to traditional quantitative and qualitative data, and introducing network text analysis as a method for large quantities of textual material.Design/methodology/approach The paper first presents the added value and potential challenges of utilising online data in HRM research, and then proposes a four-step process for analysing online data with network text analysis.Findings Online data represent a naturally occuring source of real-time behavioural data that do not suffer from researcher intervention or hindsight bias. The authors argue that as such, this type of data provides a promising yet currently largely untapped empirical context for HRM research that is particularly suited for examining discourses and behavioural and social patterns over time.Practical implications While online data hold promise for many novel research questions, it is less appropriate for research questions that seek to establish causality between variables. When using online data, particular attention must be paid to ethical considerations, as well as the validity and representativeness of the sample.Originality/value The authors introduce online data and network text analysis as a new avenue for HRM research, with potential to address novel research questions at micro-, meso- and macro-levels of analysis.
VL  - 5
IS  - 1
SN  - 2051-6614
DO  - 10.1108/JOEPP-01-2017-0007
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/JOEPP-01-2017-0007
AU  - Platanou Kalliopi
AU  - Mäkelä Kristiina
AU  - Beletskiy Anton
AU  - Colicev Anatoli
PY  - 2017
Y1  - 2017/01/01
TI  - Using online data and network-based text analysis in HRM research
T2  - Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 81
EP  - 97
Y2  - 2024/05/10
ER  -