Using Twitter to investigate discourse on immigration: the role of values in expressing polarized attitudes toward asylum seekers during the closure of Roxham Road

Abstract

IntroductionThe world is witnessing an escalating migration crisis, and Canada, with its historically high immigration rates, is experiencing a rise in the number of asylum seekers entering the country as well. Despite generally positive Canadian attitudes toward newcomers, there is a notable division in opinions about welcoming them. Past studies suggest personal values significantly shape these attitudes, particularly conservation (resistance to change) and self-transcendence (concern for others). However, little research has examined if these values manifest in social media discussions about immigration, especially at times when policies change. This study examines how the discourse on immigration changes following the announcement of the closure of Roxham Road, a debated irregular border crossing between the US and Canada used by asylum seekers.MethodIn total, 33,459 Tweets referencing Roxham Road were collected over the course of 1 week (before, during, and after the closure). We used the Personal Values Dictionary to automatically assess references to personal values (i.e., conservation and self-transcendence) in the Tweets.ResultsThe results indicate that expression of the values of conservation and self-transcendence were prevalent in discourse surrounding the closure of Roxham Road. Tweets expressing conservation had a negative tone, whereas Tweets expressing self-transcendence had a positive tone. Analyzing sentiment over time, Tweets reflecting conservation became less negative immediately after the closure, whereas Tweets reflecting self-transcendence values became more positive.DiscussionThe research highlights the interplay between personal values and policy change on immigration discourse and emphasizes the need for more analyses on how personal values are expressed in the public domain.