Pre Pandemic Temporal Baseline

Generated: October 03, 2025 at 07:59 PM

Chapter 1 Temporal Analysis

Pre-Pandemic Temporal Baseline Analysis (2018-2019)

Generated: 2025-10-03T19:59:35.033195 Analysis Period: January 01, 2018 to December 31, 2019

Executive Summary

This analysis establishes the pre-pandemic baseline for temporal posting patterns across all 8 CUNY Reddit communities. The data reveals whether late-night peer support infrastructure existed before COVID-19 or emerged as a pandemic response.

Key Findings

Overall Activity Distribution

  • Total posts analyzed (2018-2019): 17,999
  • Late-night posts (00:00-05:59): 1,982 (11.0% of total)
  • Daytime posts (06:00-23:59): 16,017 (89.0% of total)

Engagement Patterns

  • Average late-night score: 2.82
  • Average daytime score: 2.90
  • Score differential: -0.08 (-2.8% difference)

Hourly Distribution Table

Hour Time Range Post Count Avg Score Category
00 00:00-00:59 807 2.75 Late Night
01 01:00-01:59 535 2.88 Late Night
02 02:00-02:59 272 2.80 Late Night
03 03:00-03:59 164 3.13 Late Night
04 04:00-04:59 124 2.93 Late Night
05 05:00-05:59 80 2.30 Late Night
06 06:00-06:59 142 2.45 Daytime
07 07:00-07:59 226 2.88 Daytime
08 08:00-08:59 357 2.90 Daytime
09 09:00-09:59 532 3.10 Daytime
10 10:00-10:59 714 2.94 Daytime
11 11:00-11:59 846 2.93 Daytime
12 12:00-12:59 967 2.97 Daytime
13 13:00-13:59 1,104 2.97 Daytime
14 14:00-14:59 1,023 2.96 Daytime
15 15:00-15:59 1,094 2.97 Daytime
16 16:00-16:59 1,117 2.96 Daytime
17 17:00-17:59 1,103 2.65 Daytime
18 18:00-18:59 1,171 2.83 Daytime
19 19:00-19:59 1,123 2.82 Daytime
20 20:00-20:59 1,179 2.60 Daytime
21 21:00-21:59 1,204 3.14 Daytime
22 22:00-22:59 1,099 2.81 Daytime
23 23:00-23:59 1,016 3.03 Daytime

Evidence-Anchored Late-Night Examples

The following examples demonstrate the nature of late-night activity during the pre-pandemic period (2018-2019). Each entry includes a unique evidence ID for academic citation.

Example 1: Submission 7o8y46

  • Subreddit: r/Baruch
  • Timestamp: 2018-01-05T00:01:12 (Hour 00)
  • Author: u/ignantforcocopuffs
  • Score: 2
  • Title: Waitlist question
  • Content: I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with the waitlist function. I am currently enrolled in a class and have another class in the same subject on waitlist. I failed to use the swap functi…

Example 2: Submission 7qavy1

  • Subreddit: r/Baruch
  • Timestamp: 2018-01-14T03:58:56 (Hour 03)
  • Author: u/Slay3d
  • Score: 2
  • Title: is there a specific date that often people get dropped out of a class for not paying on time or some
  • Content: if im on waitlist position 9 for a 25 class size class by now, i have no chance right?

Example 3: Submission t3_7qavy1

  • Subreddit: r/Baruch
  • Timestamp: 2018-01-14T03:58:56 (Hour 03)
  • Author: u/Slay3d
  • Score: 2
  • Title: is there a specific date that often people get dropped out of a class for not paying on time or some
  • Content: if im on waitlist position 9 for a 25 class size class by now, i have no chance right?

Example 4: Submission 7svc9p

  • Subreddit: r/CCNY
  • Timestamp: 2018-01-25T05:58:21 (Hour 05)
  • Author: u/multiequations
  • Score: 2
  • Title: Textbook Request:The Evolving Presidency: Landmark Documents, 1787-2015 (5th Edition) for PSC 22200
  • Content: Hey, does anyone have a copy of this textbook that I could borrow, physical or pdf? I don’t plan to borrow it for the whole semester, just long enough to photocopy all of the pages.

I’ve scoured all…

Example 5: Submission 7updjw

  • Subreddit: r/QueensCollege
  • Timestamp: 2018-02-02T01:11:24 (Hour 01)
  • Author: u/[deleted]
  • Score: 4
  • Title: What is the best class you’ve taken at QC?
  • Content: [deleted]

Example 6: Submission t3_7updjw

  • Subreddit: r/QueensCollege
  • Timestamp: 2018-02-02T01:11:24 (Hour 01)
  • Author: u/[deleted]
  • Score: 4
  • Title: What is the best class you’ve taken at QC?
  • Content: [deleted]

Example 7: Submission 85q1zu

  • Subreddit: r/CUNY
  • Timestamp: 2018-03-20T00:31:10 (Hour 00)
  • Author: u/matuidi_charo
  • Score: 2
  • Title: TAP EMERGENCY
  • Content: What’s up CUNY, I think I’m in a bad situation. So in my CUNYfirst account shows that I owe money. I received TAP for the Spring but I checked today and it shows that I owe x amount. The only thing I …

Example 8: Submission 8kj95f

  • Subreddit: r/HunterCollege
  • Timestamp: 2018-05-19T01:20:05 (Hour 01)
  • Author: u/DoobieLift
  • Score: 1
  • Title: Easy Writing Intensive Req
  • Content: Anyone know of some easy writing intensive classes? Thanks!

Example 9: Submission t3_8kj95f

  • Subreddit: r/HunterCollege
  • Timestamp: 2018-05-19T01:20:05 (Hour 01)
  • Author: u/DoobieLift
  • Score: 1
  • Title: Easy Writing Intensive Req
  • Content: Anyone know of some easy writing intensive classes? Thanks!

Example 10: Submission 8oyffm

  • Subreddit: r/QueensCollege
  • Timestamp: 2018-06-06T02:35:29 (Hour 02)
  • Author: u/[deleted]
  • Score: 1
  • Title: Has anyone here taken math 241 with Ronald Rothenberg?
  • Content: I’m taking this course this fall and I’ve heard that he uses his own textbook for this class, but it’s only available on the QC bookstore website which costs $109 :’(. Any idea where to find this for…

Example 11: Submission 8pqz6y

  • Subreddit: r/HunterCollege
  • Timestamp: 2018-06-09T02:31:06 (Hour 02)
  • Author: u/[deleted]
  • Score: 1
  • Title: Next Csci 127, 135 Test Out Date
  • Content: Does anyone know the testout date for these classes fall 2018?

On the website it says the testout dates are march 2018… but that’s past.

Example 12: Submission 9759n3

  • Subreddit: r/CUNY
  • Timestamp: 2018-08-14T00:11:08 (Hour 00)
  • Author: u/ihatehaikyuu1
  • Score: 1
  • Title: Anyone still waiting for the results of Excelsior scholarship?
  • Content: My friends were accepted for the Excelsior scholarship. I did not receive any email about it so far. Should I be worried or should I keep waiting?

Edit (8/20): Got the results for my Excelsior schola…

Example 13: Submission t3_9759n3

  • Subreddit: r/CUNY
  • Timestamp: 2018-08-14T00:11:08 (Hour 00)
  • Author: u/ihatehaikyuu1
  • Score: 1
  • Title: Anyone still waiting for the results of Excelsior scholarship?
  • Content: My friends were accepted for the Excelsior scholarship. I did not receive any email about it so far. Should I be worried or should I keep waiting?

Edit (8/20): Got the results for my Excelsior schola…

Example 14: Comment e9v7fq2

  • Subreddit: r/BrooklynCollege
  • Timestamp: 2018-11-17T01:54:06 (Hour 01)
  • Author: u/emmaR1
  • Score: 2
  • Content: I haven’t taken the class, but if you are still looking for feedback try asking this question on “Brooklyn College: in the know” on Facebook. You may get more responses there.
  • Parent Submission: t3_9wthr5

Example 15: Submission ak9oge

  • Subreddit: r/CCNY
  • Timestamp: 2019-01-27T01:28:47 (Hour 01)
  • Author: u/BeyondLost1
  • Score: 3
  • Title: Is there a good spot on campus where I can work?
  • Content: Hi all. I’m basically in need of a place where I can use my laptop with good wifi connection and also have the ability to talk on the phone freely without disturbing others. I basically have a day job…

SQL Queries Used

1. Hourly Distribution Query

SELECT
    id,
    created_utc,
    score,
    title/body,
    author
FROM submissions/comments
WHERE created_utc >= 1514782800 AND created_utc <= 1577854799
ORDER BY created_utc

2. Late-Night Examples Query

SELECT
    id,
    created_utc,
    title/body,
    author,
    score
FROM submissions/comments
WHERE created_utc >= 1514782800 AND created_utc <= 1577854799
  AND CAST(strftime('%H', datetime(created_utc, 'unixepoch')) AS INTEGER) BETWEEN 0 AND 5
  AND (lower(title) || ' ' || lower(selftext/body)) LIKE '%keyword%'
ORDER BY created_utc

Interpretation for Chapter 1

Finding: Modest Pre-Pandemic Late-Night Activity

The data shows that late-night activity (midnight-6am) comprised 11.0% of total posting during 2018-2019. While some late-night activity existed before the pandemic, it was relatively limited compared to daytime hours. This baseline allows us to measure the expansion of 24/7 peer support during the pandemic period.

Engagement Pattern: Lower Late-Night Engagement

Late-night posts received lower average scores (2.82) compared to daytime posts (2.90) during the pre-pandemic period, suggesting that peak engagement occurred during traditional hours when most community members were active.

Data Quality Notes

  • Analysis covers all 8 CUNY subreddit databases
  • Date range strictly limited to 2018-2019 (pre-pandemic baseline)
  • Both submissions and comments included in analysis
  • Scores may be affected by Reddit’s vote fuzzing algorithm
  • Some historical posts may have been deleted or removed

Citation Format

When citing specific examples in the dissertation, use the following format: [Evidence: {type}_{id}] where type is either “submission” or “comment”

Example: “Students frequently sought registration help during late-night hours [Evidence: submission_abc123], demonstrating pre-existing patterns of peer support outside institutional hours.”

Data Files

Download JSON Data
Evidence References (1 items) â–¶

Submissions (1)