Ethical Issues in Conducting Qualitative Research in Online Communities
Increasingly, psychologists are extending their research to include online methods of data collection. Psychologists’ use of qualitative data obtained or generated online for research purposes poses unique challenges because of the “traceability” of quotes, often sensitive content of data and potent...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Routledge
2015
|
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40424 |
| _version_ | 1848755867709603840 |
|---|---|
| author | Roberts, Lynne |
| author_facet | Roberts, Lynne |
| author_sort | Roberts, Lynne |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Increasingly, psychologists are extending their research to include online methods of data collection. Psychologists’ use of qualitative data obtained or generated online for research purposes poses unique challenges because of the “traceability” of quotes, often sensitive content of data and potential impact on both individuals and online communities. In this article, working within a framework that goes beyond “procedural ethics” to examine “ethics in practice,” ethical issues associated with conducting qualitative research within online communities are identified. These include tensions over public/private space, authorship versus human research participants, informed consent, anonymity and pseudonymity, covert research, deceptive research identities, reactions to being researched, and the quality of data obtained. Prior to conducting qualitative research in online communities, researchers have an ethical obligation to identify and weigh possible risks and benefits to both the community and community members. Sensitivity to the specific online community and continued ethical consideration throughout the conduct and reporting of the research are required. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:03:08Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-40424 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T09:03:08Z |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Routledge |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-404242020-07-22T08:24:18Z Ethical Issues in Conducting Qualitative Research in Online Communities Roberts, Lynne Increasingly, psychologists are extending their research to include online methods of data collection. Psychologists’ use of qualitative data obtained or generated online for research purposes poses unique challenges because of the “traceability” of quotes, often sensitive content of data and potential impact on both individuals and online communities. In this article, working within a framework that goes beyond “procedural ethics” to examine “ethics in practice,” ethical issues associated with conducting qualitative research within online communities are identified. These include tensions over public/private space, authorship versus human research participants, informed consent, anonymity and pseudonymity, covert research, deceptive research identities, reactions to being researched, and the quality of data obtained. Prior to conducting qualitative research in online communities, researchers have an ethical obligation to identify and weigh possible risks and benefits to both the community and community members. Sensitivity to the specific online community and continued ethical consideration throughout the conduct and reporting of the research are required. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40424 10.1080/14780887.2015.1008909 Routledge fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Roberts, Lynne Ethical Issues in Conducting Qualitative Research in Online Communities |
| title | Ethical Issues in Conducting Qualitative Research in Online Communities |
| title_full | Ethical Issues in Conducting Qualitative Research in Online Communities |
| title_fullStr | Ethical Issues in Conducting Qualitative Research in Online Communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ethical Issues in Conducting Qualitative Research in Online Communities |
| title_short | Ethical Issues in Conducting Qualitative Research in Online Communities |
| title_sort | ethical issues in conducting qualitative research in online communities |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/40424 |