One of the biggest problems regarding studying online environments is the dynamic nature of the sites. A researcher could spend a lot of time analyzing a particular site only to have it archived later. The decision would then need to be made to either continue analyzing the archived site, or choose a new site which could still be accessed by those reading the article.
Another problem is the issue of privacy. Some people may assume that what they say or do online will always be public while others may have a sense of privacy regarding their postings. This issue must be handled carefully because, as researchers, we do not want to accidentally expose someone and harm them. We need to ensure that we are treating their words and thoughts with the utmost respect and, if necessary, seek permission before publishing anything. As stated in our reading, even renaming a participant may not be enough if their quoted passage is unique enough to recall the original posting.
Another issue is the relationship between the researcher and the participants. Is interaction within the group too much or too little? Is the researcher changing the dynamics of the environment? If the researcher is just lurking, is their mere presence causing a threat to the community?
Personally, I had not realized how much was at stake in studying online environments. I am very glad to have read these chapters and plan to approach my research with additional care and thought before I proceed.
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Alisha,
Regarding your first paragraph, I have had to learn that lesson the hard way. I teach Business Writing and as a part of the curriculum, I teach writing three messages: direct messages, persuasive messages, and bad news messages. My "experience" concerned the bad news messages.
Last fall, Mattel experienced a major recall only to have their "thank you" toy also recalled. While I only teach written messages, Mattel's CEO's videos through the fall were priceless in how to approach an audience when giving bad news and still keep them as a customer.
The problem with using Mattel is that I cover the bad news messages at the end of the semester. So, by the time we got to that segment, the original video was gone and replaced on the website. Fortunately, the second video was captured and posted on YouTube. I did take printscreens but was not able to capture it.
I also agree with your last paragraph. I had not thought about all of the aspects of online research and appreciate the new knowledge!
Debra Burleson
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