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Article published In: Narrative Inquiry
Vol. 36:1 (2026) ► pp.24–64

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A quantitative analysis of semantic characteristics and success of personal narratives on social media

ORCiD logo with link | Nankai University
 | Zhongnan University of Economics and Law
 | Nankai University
Published online: 22 November 2024
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/ni.24031.sun
Abstract
Due to limitations in data and methodologies, few quantitative analyses have been conducted on large-scale personal narratives. This paper addresses this gap by quantifying the semantic progression of personal narratives on Twitter and examining its relationship with narrative success. Our findings reveal significant variations in the factors influencing the success of personal narratives in politics, entertainment, and sports categories. This study deepens our understanding of the semantic characteristics and success of personal narratives, inspiring further exploration into the influence of the characteristics and success of personal narratives on self-identity.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • Methods
    • Data collection
    • Measures
      • Dependent variable
      • Independent variables
        • Speed
        • Volume
        • Circuitousness
      • Analytical strategies
  • Results
  • Discussion
  • Notes
  • References
References (53)
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