Using digital traces in user research: A mixed-method literature review of the (dis)connections between media research and computational methods

This article presents a mixed-method literature review exploring the (dis)connections in user research between media & communication and computational methods. Drawing on a large dataset from Scopus, the study combines network and keyword analyses with qualitative inquiries to assess interdisciplinary engagement regarding literature that relies on digital traces to produce user studies. Findings reveal limited interaction between the media & communication and computer science literatures, each field maintaining distinct research agendas, vocabularies, and epistemologies. While computational work emphasizes methodological innovation and data analysis, media & communication research critically contextualizes digital traces within cultural and theoretical frameworks. The review identifies emerging interdisciplinary journals and calls for greater integration through shared language, collaborative research, and methodological reflection.