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SESSION 6
DOING VIRTUAL ETHNOGRAPHIES, Part 4:METHODS, 2/2
Rutter & Smith: RumCom.local:
presence & absence
boundaries of the field: problem of lurkers
limitations of naturalistic research?
asymmetric research methodologies
questions:
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Ethically, how are we supposed to negotiate informed consent?
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Do we opt for maintaining the letter of the law with regularpostings that announce our research identities and our presence asresearchers or do we, after a general announcement of ourpresence, slip into a more naturalistic mode?
opted for face-to-face
confidentiality vs. rapport?
Beaulieu: Linking Knowledge:
how is the field of study constituted
ethnographic study of the “trace,” hyperlinks
“Via a consideration of hyperlinks as both functional and symbolic,a rich ethnographic account can be given of practices of knowledge production in terms of their meaning to participants,and of the infrastructural elements involved in this kind of activity”.
can one ever find all the links to a site?
reflexive interaction between theory and methodology – theorychanges with experience, which then changes the methodology
so what about hyperlinks?
Kivits: Online Interviewing:
cases where interviews by email are a necessity
Can one establish the necessary rapport by email? What kind of rapport?
How does one reassure participants?
How do you shape email interviews around the lives of participants?
Adding personal touches
Pre-Consent
Indicating emotion
Sensitive to the time constraints interviewees face
Regular reassurance
Maintaining interest
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