The circumstances and factors contributing to the development of good governance in social media with a focus on transparency component: A grounded theory study

Abstract

This study employs grounded theory (GT) to qualitatively explore preconditions for good governance in social media with an emphasis on accountability. The study sample consists of 20 media activists and social media managers who were selected using a theoretical or purposive sampling strategy. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with participants. The data collection process continued until saturation, i.e., no new pieces of information could add to the final model. The data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding, and then a paradigm model and a theoretical schema were developed based on the 15 main themes and the final theme extracted. The results indicated that the “tamed power of sovereignty” is the fruit of a set of factors such as accountability soft punch, reverse control and monitoring, popular network activism, and networked pressure groups, influenced by a set of contextual and intervening factors. What can cause public trust and social solidarity as the ultimate goal is the adoption of strategies such as normalization of accountability, good pragmatism, the networked activity of governing bodies, and institutional accountability of the government and then moving towards the establishment of an online accountability system. The theoretical schema and paradigm model proposed in this study can interpret the results more accurately.

Keywords

• good governance
• online accountability
• tamed power of sovereignty
• social media