Title

Explaining Social Media Variation: An Analysis of Internal Municipal Factors That Shape Canadian Municipal Websites

Author

Julien Patel, Western University

Date of Award

7-1-2013

Degree Type

Major Research Paper

Degree Name

Master of Public Administration

Program

Political Science

Supervisor

Young, Robert

Geographical Areas

Canada

Abstract

This paper explains the variations in social media features on Canadian municipal websites by measuring internal characteristics of key municipal administrators. The research process used a questionnaire to measure administrators’ attitudes towards engagement and municipal corporations’ capacity to improve websites moving forward. The results of the survey are contrasted with a dataset that scores each respondent’s municipality using predetermined criteria. Representatives from 43 Canadian municipalities agreed to participate in the study. The findings reveal that age, citizen pressure to provide online services, and engagement efforts with local stakeholders significantly explain a proportion of variation in municipal social media features.

Recommended Citation

Patel, Julien, "Explaining Social Media Variation: An Analysis of Internal Municipal Factors That Shape Canadian Municipal Websites" (2013). MPA Major Research Papers. 119.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/lgp-mrps/119