What is Online Research?

Abstract

The massive expansion of the internet into every aspect of our lives creates a challenge for social researchers: can they simply transfer their traditional methods and techniques online or do they need to reinvent research methods for the new environment? As online research becomes increasingly prevalent it becomes more important for researchers to have an answer to these questions and an approach to conducting research online. This book is a straightforward, accessible introduction to social research online. It covers the key issues and concerns for social scientists: online surveys, focus groups, interviews, ethnographies and experiments, as well as discussing the implications of social media, and of online research ethics. It provides a detailed, up-to-date glossary and bibliography for those new to the area. Short, clear case studies throughout allow students to see examples of the research in practice. Wide-ranging and interdisciplinary, What is Online Research? shows social scientists of all levels - from undergraduates to established researchers - how to engage in the online environment in appropriate ways, and points the way forward for future research.

Using WhatsApp for focus group discussions: ecological validity, inclusion and deliberation

“…Asynchronous group discussions can be more accommodating of participants' personal circumstances, be it busy schedules, digital literacy, cognitive or physical impairment or internet connection (Hinchcliffe and Gavin, 2009;Hooley et al, 2012;Nilsson et al, 2014;Wilkerson et al, 2014;Williams et al, 2012). During the focus group, as I introduced a different topic of discussion, I used numbering and bold font.…”

“…In addition to the emergence of a new horizon for online research methodology -see, for example, Blank's chapter on big data and the 'qualitative data revolution' (Blank, 2016: 867) -more traditional qualitative methods, such as interviews, observation or focus groups, have been adapted into online equivalents (Boydell et al, 2014;Williams et al, 2012). Internet technologies can easily be adapted for social research, but the ongoing developments in technology and the practices they open up requires an ongoing reflexive approach from researchers on the methodology (Hooley et al, 2012).…”

Estrategias De Comunicación De La Nueva Extrema Derecha Española. De Hogar Social a Vox, Del Alter- Activismo a La Doctrina Del Shock

“…La técnica es similar a la etnografía clásica pero adaptada al contexto de la Red, siendo la observación participante y no participante uno de sus elementos centrales. Desde el nacimiento y desarrollo de las redes sociales se ha vuelto una herramienta casi imprescindible para analizar este tipo de organizaciones y sus interacciones (Hooley et al, 2012). Es una metodología con mucho potencial para la sociología de los movimientos sociales y la sociología política, siendo las redes sociales uno de los ámbitos más importantes del activismo contemporáneo (Castells, 2012).…”

What is Qualitative Interviewing?

“… Qualitative interviewing virtual community (Beneito-Montagut 2011 ; Kozinets 2010 ). All of these possibilities change the nature, dynamic and space of the qualitative interview and raise further issues about research in virtual encounters (Hooley et al 2012 ;Mann and Stewart 2000 ).…”

“…Graham Crow ( 2012 ) outlines fi ve further methodological challenges for social science research and so qualitative interviewing that can lead us into the next section, where we consider the future for qualitative interviewing. Crow fi rst highlights the challenge of keeping up with and exploiting technological change, aspects of which were considered briefl y in Chapter 4 (see too Hooley et al 2012 ). Th e second challenge is enhancing research capacity in an integrated way, which refers to the way that mixed methods, methodological pluralism and collaboration in interdisciplinary teams are essential for moving such integration forward.…”