Podcast: Scientific Research on TikTok PDF

Podcast name: Conducting a Scientific Research Less then a 24-Hour / In a Day Intro : Diana : Hi everyone welcome to our weekly podcast with Zulli’s. In this episode, we want to talk about our new project right David? David : Yes. We are very excited to do research on the famous TikTok app itself...

Podcast name: Conducting a Scientific Research Less then a 24-Hour / In a Day Intro : Diana : Hi everyone welcome to our weekly podcast with Zulli’s. In this episode, we want to talk about our new project right David? David : Yes. We are very excited to do research on the famous TikTok app itself!! Diana: David!! You revealed it too early…. David : hahahah sorry Diana but I am very excited and terrified at the same time I couldn't hold the info. Diana : Yea, okey. So guys me and David are supposed to write a whole article about mimesis and imitation publics on the TikTok platform for the a very important journal called New Media & Society. David : omg it will be published in their next week’s issue…We have a really short time to conduct this research. Where should we start? Diana : Okey David calm down. Lets start with the understanding the topic they assign us to research. David : Fine. What is the topic is about? Diana : The topic is about the concepts of imitation and replication aspects in TikTok so we have to do a explanation of imitation publics in the app. David : Wait…What do you mean by imitation publics. Diana : I mean the concept of mimesis. David : what the heck is mimesis? I never heard of that word before. Diana : Let me look it up the exact definition. (Keyboard sounds) Hmm mimesis…mimesis…ah yes. It refers to the process by which the work reflects and reinterprets the world arou—so like to promote memetic behaviors. You know memes right? David : I love memes. So we have to look up more to key elements of “mimesis” concept and explaining the concept in the platform. Diana : Yes. And we have to answer much more questions. Like how TikTok is designed to encourage imitation and replication? David : Of course by weird or sometimes funny lip-syncing videos like the one they do most from the movie scenes… Diana : Right. But how is that content spreads and evolves through imitation? Or how it starts to shape social interactions? David: It definitely shapes the social interactions. Memetic concepts are for sure conversation starter. Diana : I know so we have to explain what role do these processes of memes play in the creation of networked publics on TikTok? Right? David : yes. Umm…What is network publics again? Diana : Off David if we have to look ever word up we need to have much more time than 24 hours. We have to hurry. David : okey okey. Don’t get mad. I can look it up…(keyboard sounds) (reads fast) Networked Publics, refer to communities or groups that engage, share, and communicate through digital networks and platforms. I get it now. Diana : We have to use certain theories while doing the research. Do you have some suggestions? David : I know we have limited time but I think we have to do mixed methodology by using qualitative and quantitative analysis for this research. Diana : You are right but qualitative will take too much time which specific theory there is that don’t take up much time than the others? David : I think we can work with grounded theory. We can try to observe the user behaviour through the platform design. Diana : very good idea. Nice thinking. I have an idea too. David : I am listening. Diana : We can combine this theory with Walkthrough Method. I know we already know bu we can deeply examine the app’s sign-up process, default page, video-editing features, and user engagement patterns. So we have to create two new accounts. And we have to engage with the app specifically— David: Oh, okey I get it. One of us can engage it constantly which my account is like that already. And yours is not. You are much of a Instagram girl you don’t engage with TikTok much do you? Diana : Yes. I don’t. So this way we can analyze the algorithm tailors content based on user behavior and how this affects interaction patterns. Yes very good. David : I wish we would have much more time to use Actor-Network Theory. This could offer us insights into how the platform's design and algorithmic features with numerical data. But we don’t have the source for this. Diana : Yeah. We don’t have that. I would like to use the Digital Labor Theory too but we don’t have any access to any influencer or a brand. Therefore we could add these to suggestions part of the end part. David : Okey. Lets look up some early articles or studies about our research maybe we can make references. Diana : I see that you are getting invested in this research. David : I am invested why wouldn't I. I am glad we are doing this. Diana : Okey then. I found something by Limor Shifman. His previous study about Internet memes. He proposed that TikTok functions as a "memetic text”. By focusing on how TikTok’s features—like sounds, effects, and video challenges—promote memetic behavior. So we can try to engage and explain these certain features on the app. Have you ever used them? David : Of course I used them you didn’t? They are the core of tiktok. And I agree with Shifman. They certainly do function as memetic text. Diana : how? David : Because you replicate some sound or visual to your own self Diana. And I found something too. Danah Boyd’s study. He explained the "Imitation publics" on TikTok, where users connect through the shared process of content replication rather than interpersonal connections. So we, I mean me, create the replication contents for public connections in some sort of. Diana : I found something that I can relate to. Van Dijck (2013) and Davis (2020) they mentioned the huge differences between the other apps and tiktok. Because of TikTok's design, which prioritizes video creation and imitation over traditional social networking. Instagram is not like this at all. So I am still a Instagram fan sorry. David : Yes we have to mention the other apps. They are definitely not better than tiktok but we have to show TikTok’s unique approach to content discovery and interaction by compering it to others like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Diana : You know more I assume. How is tiktok better and different then those apps? David : I know that particularly its emphasis on content imitation through sounds, effects, and challenges so it extends existing literature on how social media platforms shape user engagement. Diana : I am taking notes. We have to measure these by certain analysis. So lets conclude our unit of analysis first David : write it in a full sentence so that it will be understandable while we conduct th research. Diana : I am writing (keyboard sounds). The unit of analysis in this research is the TikTok platform itself, with a particular focus on how its digital features and design encourage and facilitate mimetic behavior (imitation and replication) among users. David : Excellent sentence. Good job. Diana : thanks. I got help from chatgpt a little. David : oh its fine. So do we going to have more participants in this research ? Diana : No. I think it will be just us. In order to finished it quickly. David : Hmm. So it will be self- reflective analysis. This research could be more comprehensible if we would have more participants. But walkthrough method is very mindful to use I think because with this method we could immerse ourself in the TikTok platform as users, as we created different types of accounts and observed the platform from different angles. Diana : I don’t agree with every step we take too but I think we will gain a great measurements to focus on Platform Infrastructure and Features. Like looking its user sign-up process, the "For You" page, the algorithms, and video-editing features rather than focusing on the content alone is a clever way to measure the app. But yeah we do have limited participants so our data will not be too generalizable. David: So, Diana, we’ve discussed the core ideas for our article, but we still need to clarify our research design and methodology. It’s a crucial part of the project. Diana: You’re right. Let’s start by addressing whether the methods we’ve chosen are suitable for answering our research questions. David: Do you think the methodological toolkit we’re using is appropriate? Diana: I believe so. The Walkthrough Method is particularly useful for this type of platform analysis. It allows us to explore TikTok’s design, user interface, and engagement features step by step, which is essential for understanding how imitation behaviors are encouraged. David: I agree. We’ve also combined it with Grounded Theory, which is helpful for identifying patterns in user behavior without pre-existing assumptions. This way, we can observe how TikTok users replicate content and how the platform fosters imitation publics. Diana: Exactly. However, we should acknowledge that our methodology has its limitations, particularly regarding the number of participants. Since it’s just the two of us conducting the analysis, the findings won’t be generalizable to all users. David: Yes, that’s an important point. Our study is more of a self-reflective analysis, where we engage with the platform ourselves and reflect on our experiences. Diana: And although this limits the scale of our research, it still provides valuable insights into how TikTok’s features shape user behavior. David: Let’s move on to the next question: What research questions have we answered so far? Diana: We’ve addressed key questions about how TikTok’s design promotes imitation. Specifically, we’ve explored how features like sounds, effects, and video challenges encourage users to replicate content and how these processes lead to the creation of networked publics. David: What about unanswered questions? Diana: There are still several areas we haven’t been able to cover in depth. For example, how do these imitation behaviors affect users’ creativity and identity formation over time? And what are the long-term societal impacts of platforms that prioritize replication over original content? David: Good points. I would add that we’ve raised new questions as well, such as how TikTok’s approach compares to other social media platforms and whether other platforms will adopt similar imitation-driven features in the future. Diana: Exactly. These are potential areas for further research. David: Now, let’s address the “so what” question—what’s the main takeaway from our research? Diana: The main message is that TikTok operates as a “memetic text”, where users engage with the platform by replicating sounds, effects, and trends. This process shapes social interactions in new ways, creating networked publicsthat form through shared behaviors rather than traditional social connections. David: And why is this significant? Diana: It’s important because it highlights how digital platforms actively shape culture and social norms. Understanding these processes helps us see how technology influences behavior, communication, and identity in contemporary society. David: Alright, the final question—how would you rate the article? Thumbs up or thumbs down? Diana: I would give it a thumbs up. The article addresses relevant issues in digital culture and introduces new concepts that are useful for understanding the role of imitation in social media. David: I agree. It provides valuable insights into how platforms like TikTok influence user engagement and social interactions. While there are areas that could be expanded upon, it’s a strong contribution to the field of media, culture, and society. Diana: I think we’re on the right track with our research. Now, let’s focus on completing our analysis before the deadline. David: Absolutely. Let’s get to work!