Instant messaging: a novel means of facilitating the participation of hard-to-reach groups in sensitive topic research

Abstract

PurposeAs society becomes ever more reliant on Internet technology for everyday communications, this paper explores the use of instant messaging (IM) in qualitative research. Discussed within the context of sensitive topic research with potentially hidden and hard-to-reach groups, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the value of adaptive and contemporary research approaches which facilitate participation on the terms of the participant.Design/methodology/approachReflecting on the data collection process from the primary authors’ PhD research, this paper critically considers some of the issues raised by IM-facilitated at semi-structured interviews.FindingsThis paper raises a number of issues, including how the perceived depth of participant response is influenced by their brevity, resultant of the space between parties which allows for considered and concise communication. This disconnect, created by the use of technology, also has implications for the power relations between researcher and participant and the ability to identify the non-verbal cues which communicate emotion and sentiment.Originality/valueThis paper highlights that whilst limited in some respects, an IM-facilitated interview provides a unique platform through which hidden and hard-to-reach groups may be empowered to participate in research, which they may usually avoid.

E–writing activity using Instant Messaging to ignite EFL students’ critical thinking in writing English argumentation on a conservation issue

“…Evidence that the students supplied supports the assertion; and therefore the conclusion is drawn from the series of evidence (Reichenbach, 2000;Chaffee & Carlson, 2014). Amid constructing the English argument, the students had a plentiful occasions to offer and amend their arguments before posting on WhatsApp Group (Dawson et al, 2021). As a result, the students were able to present the English argument in a short time.…”

“…Students' argumentative text represented the documented primary data (Cohen et al, 2013) that were to be analyzed. Meanwhile, the instant messaging interview was administered to five students for this kind of asynchronous chat or message providing participants with an affordable area at which response could be considered and amended best on their willingness (Dawson et al, 2021). The interview is the ultimate way to uncover participants' points of view about the situation they live in (Cohen et al, 2013).…”

“…The present study empowers the use of WhatsApp Group with the device of Instant Messaging. This device is commonly used when communicating via WhatsApp Group and the user may make considerations, and amendments before posting or sending the message (Dawson et al, 2021). The message in the present study is a kind of text which is called argumentative text.…”

Producing In Situ Data From a Distance With Mobile Instant Messaging Interviews (MIMIs): Examples From the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…First, MIM has a key role in the methodological efforts of moving classical qualitative methods, in particular interviews, to new modes of online communication, starting with email, videoconferencing, instant messaging on stationary computers and now mobile messaging. Accordingly, scholars review and evaluate the methodical potential of MIM as an “online method” for substituting in-person interviews in comparative studies with regard to quality of data, convenience or functionality, in contrast to the original method or to other alternative forms of application (e.g., Dawson et al, 2020; Maeng et al, 2016). In these cases, MIM proves to be a flexible and discrete mode of conducting interviews.…”