NEWS21 February 2014
UK — NatCen Social Research has released a report outlining social media users’ concerns about use of their online data for social research purposes.
The report, based on a sample of 34 social media users, explores the views of these users on how their online information is used by researchers. It reveals that some people feel researchers remain obliged to gain consent and protect anonymity, as well as to make clear the value and validity of the research to participants.
According to NatCen, many social media users also “struggled to stay on top of privacy mechanisms and were unsure about the legal boundaries and regulations governing data use on the various social networking sites.”
One of the report’s authors, Alexandra Fry, said: “While most researchers are champing at the bit to start exploring the reams of information available online and via social media, it is a field wrought with ethical dilemmas. This reports provides a voice that is often missing from discussions about the ethics of online research; the voice of the users. We now know that researchers must communicate better articulate the nature, value and rigour of their work.”
Read the full report here.
The world's leading job site for research and insight
Resources Group
Research Manager – Consumer – Neuro / Behavioural Science
£35,000–£40,000 + Benefits
Resources Group
Senior Research Manager – Government & Social clients
£40–50,000 + great benefits
Resources Group
Insight Manager (Client Side) – Not-For-Profit/Sustainability
To £55,000
Featured company
-
Town/Country: London
Tel: +44 (0)20 7490 7888
Kudos Research is the leading provider of premium quality UK and International Telephone Data-Collection. Specialising in hard to reach B2B and Consumer audiences, we achieve excellent response rates and provide robust, actionable, verbatim-rich data. Methodologies include . . .
-
Brought to you by:
©2024 The Market Research Society,
15 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0JR
Tel: +44 (0)20 7490 4911
info@mrs.org.uk -
© Copyright 2024 Research Live
4 Comments
Annie Pettit
10 years ago
This is a sorry state. 1) This very important conclusion is based on a sample size of 34. 2) This essentially shuts the door for all sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, philosophers etc conducting observational research, something that has already been MASSIVELY debated by experts in ethics. I think the real issue here is education for non-researchers and better standards of practice for researchers who aren't currently members of associations with ethical standards.
Like Reply Report
Laura NW
10 years ago
1) This is a qualitative report, where number of participants is not crucial. 2) The reports to address some of the issues and to contribute specifically to the MASSIVE ongoing debate. Even more so, the report OPENS the door by concluding with a range of recommendations to ensure ethical practice on the evolving realm of social media research.
Like Reply Report
Ben Sackworth
10 years ago
A bit of knee-jerk dogmatism there from Annie Pettit. Did she even read this article before weighing in? Further to Laura's point - and the premise of the report - I've seen much navel-gazing from the industry on ethical issues of social media research but little "voice of the user". To that end I believe this report adds a valuable dimension to the debate and some solid recommendations based on sound qualitative research.
Like Reply Report
Jeffrey Henning
10 years ago
Ben, here's a voice-of-the-user report from 2010: http://www.research-live.com/magazine/the-etiquette-of-eavesdropping/4003436.article
Like Reply Report