Date post: | 21-Jul-2015 |
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Challenges and Opportunities of Using Social Media for Social Science Research
Wednesday 9th July 9.15am-12.45pm
Convenor: Kandy Woodfield, Director of Learning NatCen Social Research
Our panel
Blurring the boundaries: a network of researchers using social media – Kelsey Beninger, NatCen Social Research
Social media and prediction - Dr Luke Sloan & Dr Matthew Williams, Cardiff University, COSMOS team
Using social media to curate a collaborative social research hub - Donna Peach, Huddersfield University
Tea and coffee break
Myths & mythologies - Jamie Bartlett & Carl Miller, Demos
From Flickr to Snapchat – Dr Farida Vis, Sheffield University
Blurring the boundaries? Innovation Collaboration
Inspiration Fresh thinking New social media, new social science?
Network of methodological innovation Funded by NCRM, May 2012-May 2013
500+ members worldwide Open membership, all welcome Interdisciplinary Peer network, member led
Aims of the network Innovation
Collaboration Inspiration
Fresh thinking On & off line community of practice
Forge links between academics, practitioners & disciplines
Catalyse debate
Address challenges social media present for social science research
Share approaches, tools & experiences of using social media Identify good practice
Co-created content & guidance to be shared with the wider community
What do we do Innovation
Collaboration Inspiration
Fresh thinking
Network activities across a range of platforms: Twitter: @NSMNSS, #NSMNSS – tweets, twitter chats, Q&As Blogs: http://nsmnss.blogspot.co.uk/ - we welcome contributors –
contact us @NSMNSS or via the blog You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/user/NSMNSS - presentations
from events Face to face events – knowledge exchange seminars, conferences,
webinars
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Blurring the boundaries: findings from a network of researchers using social media Kelsey Beninger NatCen Social Research
What have we learnt? I
Social media being used in most soc sci disciplines
Research innovation & ground breaking use of technologies
Great examples of multi-disciplinary research using social media
Silos & divides do still exist and are counter-productive to moving social media methodology(ies) forward
No single methodology for social media research – many approaches, many tools, different epistemological stances
What have we learnt? II
Persisting uncertainty about whether we are ‘getting it right’ Ethical dilemmas - lack of consistent, relevant guidance
What are the political, ethical, legal issues?
Do we understand the digital world well enough to make these choices?
Lack of research with users of social media platforms or engagement with platform providers
What have we learnt? III
‘Getting it right’ is also about methodological quality: What is a robust sample from Twitter or Facebook?
Need to develop methodological courage and confidence to defend the method
Scepticism and cynicism persist
Digital literacy & methodological skills gaps
Lack of experience and understanding in institutions, ethics boards and funders
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Context
Social Media provides new opportunities
Recent studies: NatCen: www.natcen.ac.uk/our-research/research/
research-using-social-media-users-views/
NSMNSS: nsmnss.blogspot.co.uk
Challenges
Recruitment & data collection
Researcher identity & wellbeing
Analysis & presentation of data
Recruitment & Data Collection Recruitment
Participant’s views: scepticism, acceptance and ambiguity.
Digital identities
Digital risks for participants
Exclusion of particular groups
Informed consent
1. Morally and legally required
2. Promote trust
3. Verify user views haven’t changed
4. To publish photos or imagery
Data Collection
Ownership and expectations
Researcher identity & wellbeing
Your digital identity
Impact on research outcomes
Managing communication w participants
Credibility and transparency
Analysis and presentation of data Analysis Third Party Software How much is too much? Validity and representativeness People behave differently online and offline Exaggerated views Impulsive comments Inaccurate profiles
Presentation Traceability of participant data Short & long term implications for participants
Recommendations
Is SM the right methodology for your research Q? Don’t make assumptions Review case studies &
existing research
Recruitment:
Transparency in materials
Explicit about privacy terms of the platform used
Collecting/generating data:
Consider implications of legally permitted vs. intellectual property
Acknowledge limits of accessing different user types
Reporting results:
Test traceability of data, and paraphrase or remove handle
Reasonably seek consent for use of verbatim/sensitive content
Thank you! Questions? [email protected] [email protected]