Observing Opinions

Measuring Opinionated Communication

Dig into the EU COST network OPINION with Wendo

The European Union’s (EU) COST (www.cost.eu) network OPINION (www.opinion-network.eu) is an international network of researchers collaborating to develop and integrate conceptual foundations, computational measurement strategies, and research agendas for the study of textual expressions of evaluative opinions. As a concerted effort to address one of the key challenges in the study of digital textual data, OPINION advances a trans-disciplinary, multilingual, culturally sensitive, and collaborative approach to studying opinionated communication.

This podcast allows you to dig into the network.

Please note that this podcast is based upon work from COST Action OPINION, CA21129, supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology). COST ist a funding agency for research and innovation networks. Our Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and enable scientists to grow their ideas by sharing them with their peers. This boosts their research, career and innovation.

In this episode, Professor Mario Haim from LMU Munich breaks down what it really means for research to be robust — covering key concepts like generalizability, validity, reliability, reproducibility, and replicability. Mario explains how these ideas connect and why they matter, especially when studying opinionated communication with computational methods. He shares practical insights on common pitfalls, specific challenges in this field, and concrete steps researchers can take to strengthen their studies — from better documentation to transparent workflows and careful methodological choices. Whether you’re designing a new project or refining your research practices, this conversation offers valuable guidance for ensuring your work stands on solid ground.