Evaluating Hate speech: A sociolinguistic and bio signal experiment

Abstract

In the last ten years there have been many studies investigating the surge in online hate speech. Most such research is found in legal studies, discourse studies, and computer science studies. However, to date there has been very little interdisciplinary experimental research examining hate speech. Our study aims to fill this gap and to determine the efficacy of working within an interdisciplinary approach to study reactions to hate speech. We investigate reactions to specific hate speech experiences (e.g., for sexual orientation, racial profile, etc.) and then measure the reactions to these “stimuli” following a triangulated methodology (questionnaires, interviews and bio signal experiments). This paper discusses the results of such procedures after having given a comprehensive overview of hate speech studies.

Keywords

• hate speech
• sociolinguistic study
• psychological experiment
• bio signals
• experimental linguistics