Using Twitter to Better Understand Public Sentiment

By using the data provided by millions of Twitter users, two researchers discovered surprising insights into public sentiment in shrinking cities.

1 minute read

January 14, 2016, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


A post on The Lincoln Institute of land Policy blog introduces a new working paper, by authors Justin Hollander of Tufts University and Henry Renski of the University of Massachusetts, that uses Twitter data "to compare public attitudes in 50 shrinking, mostly postindustrial cities with those in 50 stable, growing cities."

The goal of the paper, as described, is to provide planners with additional tools for evaluating public well-being—Twitter being an easily accessed tool to supplement more traditional tools like Census data and online or other survey processes.

In addition to the study's methodology, the research findings are also of note: "The authors found no significant difference in the attitudes of resident in shrinking cities and growing cities." The lack of difference in attitudes suggests that local, state, and federal agencies need to devote more resources to studying the impacts of population decline on neighborhoods and community well-being.

The study's authors will next research the New York City Department of Design and Construction, "to explore the sentiments of people who live and work near public buildings and plazas."

Friday, January 8, 2016 in At Lincoln House

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

7 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue tarps covering tents set up by unhoused people along chain link fence on concrete sidewalk.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work

Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

July 6, 2025 - Next City

Tunnel for pedestrians, bikes, and buses in Lyon, France lit up with purple lights.

The French Solution to Congested Tunnels: Make Them Car-Free

Bay Area transportation officials keep expanding car capacity. Lyon’s Croix Rousse Tunnel offers a different way.

2 hours ago - Streetsblog San Francisco

Missouri state Rep. Chris Brown speaking in government chamber.

Missouri Governor Reverses Anti-Discrimination Housing Policies

A new state law bars cities from prohibiting source-of-income discrimination against tenants using Section 8 housing vouchers.

2 hours ago - Missouri Independent

Pedestrians crossing a rainbow painted crosswalk in New York City.

USDOT Launches Unfunded 'SAFE ROADS' Program

The program targets “distractions” and “political messages or artwork,” and paves the way for autonomous vehicles.

3 hours ago - Urban Milwaukee