Going Online Opportunities, Challenges and Ethics in Internet Research

What’s so different about researching on The Net? CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18, Cartoon by Peter Steiner. The New Yorker, July 5, 1993 issue [Vol.69 no. 20] page 61

A framework… Boundaries, scale & situatedness Collecting and interpreting data Privacy Identit(y)(ies), Gender, Sexuality Time, space and culture 3 CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18, 2009

Boundaries and Scale CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18,

So what is the problem? The Internet is really really big and messy CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18, Image internettopology.jpg internettopology.jpg Generated by Yuval Shavitt using Lanet-vi. Lanet-vi generates this graph using models based on research found in: Alvarez-Hamelin, J., & Schabanel, N. (2004, March 15). An internet graph model based on trade-off optimization. European Physical Journal B -- Condensed Matter, 38(2), Retrieved March 17, 2009, doi: /epjb/e y

What is Internet qualitative research? CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18, … a situated activity that locates the observer in the world. It consists of a set of interpretive, material practices that make the world visible … This means that qualitative researchers study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of or interpret phenomena in terms of the meanings people bring to them… Denzin and Lincoln, quoted in Maczewski, et al (2004, p. 63) Qualitative research is:

Situating qualitative research online CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18, OngroundOnline Research Ethics Technical

Examining the technical sphere CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18, i)How are the technical characteristics of the internet enabling research interactions? ii)What are the human and social implications of using this new medium? iii)How do technical characteristics of the internet influence qualitative research? iv)What social and ethical implications do internet mediated forms of human and social interactions have on qualitative research practices, specifically researcher- participant relationship

CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18, Collecting and Interpreting Data

Howard: Hypermedia Organizations Difficult to perform an ethnography in “hypermedia” organizations attempts to capture rich detail in interactions may be hindered when organizations “operate over great distance and through new media” (p. 2) Uses Social Network Analysis to justify case selection for ethnographic research Suggests the term “Network Ethnography” CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18,

Considering Data Invisibility of Data records and logs as sources Algorithms Storage of data and contractual privacy concerns CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18,

Considering Reach CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18, Image from: Reporters without borders

Researcher-Participant Relationships CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18, Law model Asymmetrical power relationship between the researcher and participant The researcher is considered the expert in the relationship and is assumed to be working in the best interests of participants

Researcher-Participant Relationships CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18, Sociological & Collaborative models Communal endeavor Reciprocity of rights and duties Equal status of researcher and participant Common goals Some expectation of ‘gain’ by the participant just as there is ‘gain’ for the researcher

User-Centered Internet Research Change in focus: Central ethical issue is the “extent to which participants’ interests are recognized and addressed by the goals and techniques of the research” (p. 343) Engage participants with a form of PAR: negotiating the progress and goals of research to be inline with participants ’ CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18,

Data use and ownership Consider how the end-user interacts with the data: Transcripts may be maintained by participants Who owns the content or determines how it might be used? CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18,

User-Centered Internet Research Addresses: Lack of or reversal of the ‘competence gap’ in internet research Concerns stated by internet users about the appropriation of their online products by researchers CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18,

References Bakardjieva, M., Feenberg, A., and Goldie J. (2004). User-Centered Internet Research: The Ethical Challenge.” In Elizabeth A. Buchanan (Ed.), Readings in virtual research ethics : issues and controversies (Ch. XVIII). Hershey, PA : Information Science Pub. Marczewski, M., Storey, M.A., Hoskins, M. (2004). Conducting Congruent, Ethical, Qualitative Research in Internet-Mediated Research Environments In Elizabeth A. Buchanan (Ed.), Readings in virtual research ethics : issues and controversies (Ch. IV). Hershey, PA : Information Science Pub. Ess, C and the AoIR ethics working committee (2002). Ethical decision-making and Internet research: Recommendations from the aoir ethics working committee. Available online: Howard, P. (2002). Ethnography and the Hypermedia Organization: New Media, New Organizations, New Methods. New Media and Society, 4:550. DOI: / Available online: Baym, N. (2009). What Constitutes Quality in Qualitative Internet Research? In N. Baym and A. Markham (Eds.), Internet Inquiry: conversations about method (pp ). Los Angeles : Sage Publications CMNS801 Research Methods Presentation by Mike Stanger: Mar 18,