St. Lawrence University

Introduction

Computational methods for sorting and organizing data can have enormous benefits, especially when there’s a large amount of data to process. Hand encoding, in contrast, can be tremendously labor intensive, yet some types of distinctions that are all but impossible for a computer to make are comparatively easy for a person. Understanding differences between these tagging methods is a crucial aspect of studying Twitter.

TagCloud of Hashtags (Machine Encoded)

icant WTF freedomofspeech CNN mikebrownverdict riots RedNationRising politicsnation injustice cbs mich BlackFriday DEM ArrestDarrenWilson wpxi Ohio AkaiGurley AnonymousOpFerguson SleepyHollow peace FergusonRiotTrips rome anarchy OpDefense besafe obama justice VerdictDay Pray4Ferguson libcrib solidarity StevenAlex01 DearFerguson grandjury GrandJuryVerdict smh none Missouri justsaying Trayvon woke live handsup factsonly republicans Ebola 2A Ferguson FergusonPHL Chi2Ferguson PrayForPeace wilson JusticeForMichaelBrown tcot inners knowyourrights priorities Seattle ImmigrationAction Clayton UnitedWeWin GovNixon Bullshit NoJusticeNoProfit whitesupremacy StreamTeam Uniteblue runforjustice HBCUs4Justice OpKKK racism Peacefully FTP Spelman niteblue history fergusongrandjurydecision Holder FoxNews Morehouse OfficerWilson Fergsuon sa Unbelievable caring OneLove Sitroom wcvb DONTSHOOT hate 148feet BlackTwitter OpFerguson America PoliceState Mockingjay tgdn FergusonEverywhere Hagel USA NY nbc BreakingNews verdict politics DanIsom standup4mike tlot HandsUpDontShoot MLK MH370 STANDFORSOMETHING pray DarrenWilsonVerdict 108Days nojusticenopeace NoPhoneCall Palestine TooManyToName NYC indictwilson JordanDavis PrayersForFerguson GrandJuryDecision oakland MTVStars BREAKING HTGAWM JusticeForMikeBrown TheDecision FAIL Shaw United Cleveland UnionSquare prayforferguson IndictDarrenWilson VerdictOutcome FrancisSlay merica martiallaw RIPMikeBrown inequality US FreeTheHLF5 MikeBrownMeans UPDATE Sad abc Reuters lgbt MikeBrown FOX13 HappeningNow Atlanta fb KHOU on FergusonMissouri CNRapp FoolsErrand cantrussit TrayvonMartin BlackLivesMatter staywoke HumanRights NeverForget GuardianCam Fox changePenang KKK StopObamasAmnesty insane CashinIn BillCosby indictment ProtestInPeace teaparty WATCH MTP FergusonNovember DarrenWilson MichaelBrown NYPD IndicttheSystem FergusonRiotTips StLouis ccot disrespect FreeMarissa SleepyHolla Pittsburgh pjnet police boil Boston Gruber AC360 FilmThePolice STLTogether LifeofJulia MarissaAlexander RekiaBoyd FergusonDecision LAPD EyesOnFerguson gretawire Respect PantsUpDontLoot FergusonGrandJury riot IndictTheCop anonymous FergusonLive STL ShutItDown Ouch JayNixon FergusonVerdict msnbc nerdland lnyhbt Chicago ff ShantelDavis policebrutality Occupy FergusonAction alert HoodsOff TamirRice GOP ACAB MO News prayforSTL nixon HOUSTON TheLead p2 protesters racist HowToGetAwayWithMurder BlackPanic ThugMentality Thanksgiving Manipulation wontendwell protest Castle