The present study has as aim to describe some procedures used for research in or through social networks, especially in Psychology. In order to do so, different ways of using the Internet as a tool or an object of investigation were analyzed, considering ethical and technical parameters in resolution 196 of the National Health Council, and in the Psychologist Code of Professional Ethics. Finally, there is a discussion on the adequacy of such procedures with post-structuralism theory, based on classic authors of this philosophical and theoretical perspective, such as Michel Foucault, Judith Butler and Tomaz Tadeu da Silva.Keywords: methods; internet; ethics, research.
RESUMOO presente estudo tem como objetivo descrever alguns procedimentos que visam à realização de pesquisas nas/através das redes sociais virtuais, particularmente no campo da psicologia. Para tanto, diferentes maneiras de utilização da Internet como ferramenta ou objeto de investigação foram analisadas, considerando-se os parâmetros éticos e técnicos previstos tanto na resolução 196 do Conselho Nacional de Saúde como no Código de Ética Profissional do Psicólogo. Por fim, discorre-se sobre a adequação desses procedimentos com relação à perspectiva teórica pós-estruturalista, com base em autores clássicos desta linha de pensamento filosófico, como Michel Foucault, Judith Butler e Tomaz Tadeu da Silva.Palavras-chave: metodologia; internet; ética em pesquisa.The Internet has a prominent position in contemporary social relations, and Brazil is world leader in the use of social networks, with the participation of 86% of internet users (Dias, 2010). This information is relevant to understand how people communicate, make linkages and search for identification and group support nowadays. One important feature of this kind of interaction is the possibility to remain anonymous when browsing and talking in virtual environments.Peruzzo, Jung, Soares and Scarparo (2007) comment that the internet user experiences relations, which are not necessarily defined by the presence of others, enables idealizations and fantasies regarding other users. As there is no direct contact, a relative detachment tends to encourage freedom of speech, diminish self-criticism and provide less resistance to the discussion of taboo or delicate themes. The authors comment on social networks saying that:there is great richness and diversity of feelings exposed through them, as well as an evident transformation of boundaries, which allows users to discuss very intimate matters. This shows that such networks constitute an important research field, especially in psychology. (p. 6) Populations that would have rarely been found and gathered in offline environment are gathering in the Internet and can be studied through this tool. This applies to themes such as eating disorders, sexual behaviors, suicide, self-harm and many others.Camozzato (2007) resorted to blogs (virtual diaries) and Internet communities to try and understand how the construction of oneself and of others happen...