Reddit Data Collection Guide

This guide explains how to collect qualitative data from Reddit for research purposes.

Overview

Reddit is a valuable source of qualitative data because users share detailed personal experiences in topic-specific communities (subreddits). This guide covers best practices for systematic data collection.

Step 1: Set Up a Shared Google Sheet

Create a Google Sheet with the following columns:

Column Description
Post ID Reddit post/comment ID for reference
Subreddit Source subreddit
Date When posted
Quote/Summary Key content (paraphrase, don’t copy entire posts)
Category/Theme Categorize the issue
Context Industry, job type, demographics if mentioned
Notes Your observations

Step 2: Identify Target Subreddits

Finding Relevant Subreddits

  1. Search Reddit for your topic keywords
  2. Identify subreddits where users share personal experiences
  3. Prioritize active subreddits with substantial post history

Example Subreddit Categories

Step 3: Search Strategy

Within your target subreddit, use the search bar to find relevant posts.

Keyword Examples

Adapt these to your research topic:

Search Tips

Step 4: Data Collection Process

What to Look For

  1. Personal experiences - First-hand accounts, not advice-seeking
  2. Detailed stories - Posts with context and specifics
  3. Workplace interactions - How situations were handled
  4. Policy mentions - What helped or was missing
  5. Emotional content - Challenges, frustrations, successes

How to Record

Avoiding Duplicates

Step 5: Team Coordination (If Applicable)

Dividing Work

| Approach | Example | |———-|———| | By keyword | Team member A searches keywords 1-5, B searches 6-10 | | By time period | A collects 2024 posts, B collects 2025 posts | | By subreddit | A focuses on r/subreddit1, B focuses on r/subreddit2 |

Communication

Ethical Considerations

  1. Public Data Only - Only use posts from public subreddits
  2. Anonymity - Never include usernames in your final report
  3. Paraphrase - Summarize rather than quote extensively to protect privacy
  4. No Direct Contact - Do not message Reddit users
  5. Research Purpose - Data is for academic analysis only
  6. IRB Compliance - Follow your institution’s research ethics guidelines

Step 6: Coding and Analysis

After data collection, analyze the data using qualitative methods.

Coding Process

  1. Open coding - Read through data, identify initial patterns
  2. Axial coding - Group related codes into categories
  3. Selective coding - Identify overarching themes

Creating a Thematic Table

Organize your findings into a table showing:

See Qualitative Research Paper Guide for detailed guidance on analysis and presenting findings.

Data Quality Tips

Signs of Good Data

Data to Skip

Checklist

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