How do grievances become manifestos? Developing frame analysis in social movement research

Since the 1980s, social movement researchers have increasingly turned their attention to how activists strategically frame their grievances and motivations for collective action. This has served to uncover meaning-making practices in both micro-level mechanisms, such as citizens’ engagement in social movements, and meso- and macro-level dynamics, like collective mobilisations and alliances. In this chapter, after presenting the conceptual underpinnings of frame theory in the context of social movements research, we will briefly review leading methodological approaches to study frames in qualitative, quantitative, mixed-, and digital methods designs. Finally, we will illustrate the steps undertaken to examine framing in the context of Italian and Spanish LGBTQIA* collective actions in 2019. By combining theoretical insight, methodological thinking, and practical guidance, this chapter aims to provide key tools to take solid decisions in developing empirical investigations of framing in the context of social contention.