In order to investigate my research question, I observed Youtube travel video blogs and the videos comment section. I used both quantitative and qualitative approaches while analyzing the media.
Youtube Video Video Quantitative Methods
Once I had collected my Youtube videos, I began creating a code sheet which consisted of background information, such as location traveled to, home origin of traveler, and setting of where traveler chose to eat insects. Travelers would specifically mention which region they had traveled to, but finding their origin was often difficult. In some cases, the video blogger would state where they were from in the video, but if not then I would have to manually search for the information. I would search for this information by clicking on the content creators Youtube profile, then clicking on the About tab, where location of content is listed. Yet, some Youtube video bloggers have location blocked to the public, so I listed these people as unknown westerners, based on accent, or unknown entirely. Apart from the background information, much of my coding for Quantitative and Qualitative analysis was combined to form one code sheet. Quantitative data was based on the count of the word insect, bug or specific bug type. Along with the use of the word “ew” or words/phrases similar for negative, and “not bad” or words/ phrases similar for positive. Also counted was the number of times a traveler would compare an insect to a more ‘common’ to the traveler meat or snack, like chicken or french fries. Moreover, the number of times a traveler would mention protein or sustainability, if at all.
Youtube Video Video Qualitative Methods
The positive or negative reaction of eating the insect was analyzed through the form the insect was eaten in, meaning fried, raw, or served in a dish. Further analyzed was the interaction between the traveler and person they were acquiring the insect from. Whether or not the seller was shown in the video, if applicable, language spoken by the traveler, and if the traveler was shown to speak to anyone outside of fellow travelers was important to note. For qualitative analysis of positive or negative reactions, along with the explicit spoken language, also observed was the unspoken language. The unspoken language, meaning facial expressions and non-word vocal emissions. Identifying whether or not someone is willing to eat insects was more subjective and based on the exaggeration of features. Eckman (1973) examined the facial expressions connected to disgust as: lowered jaw, tongue sticking out, wrinkled nose, or pursed lips.
Youtube Comments Analysis
The major themes that were being coded in the Youtube comments were the following: explicit comments about disgust, personal travel narratives, comments about courage and connection to location by sickness. Most of the comments that were just supporting the creator were not included in my research but important to note nonetheless. Comments of disgust had similar codes to the video meaning that the word “ew” or phrases similar were used, with the addition of use of the vomiting emoticons.
Limitations
My research was limited by the number of video travel blogs available on Youtube, along with the number of comments on each post. Furthermore, not all of the Youtube videos had spoken language, or showed people actually consuming insects. In Youtube videos withoit . I was still able to code these videos, however it is difficult to tell specific perceptions of eating insects in this type of video.