Sage Research Methods Community Newsletter, May 2024

Collect Data with Online Methods and Digital Tools

That is how Janet Salmons prefaced her first Sage book, Online Interviews in Real Time and since then qualitative and quantitative researchers have blown the roof off the proverbial barn. We've discovered diverse ways to use technology to inspire or further research. We've seen various types of e-research emerge, with their own approaches, variously called Internet research, online research, virtual research or digital research. This quarter you can find new original posts, author interviews, and open access resources about online methods on the Sage Research Methods Community.

You can also join Dr. Salmons virtually and meet some of the researchers at the Center for Advanced Internet Studies, where she will be a fellow from April through June 2024. Register now for this special How to Do Research and Get Published webinar!

Content from around our Community:

  • Anonymizing Qualitative Data: Safeguarding privacy in qualitative research is crucial, especially in an era where personal data is easily accessible. Anonymizing data protects identities while revealing raw truths.

  • Collect Data on Social Media: Social media platforms are rich sources of user-generated content, offering invaluable insights for researchers. Discover the methodologies behind collecting data from these dynamic digital landscapes.

  • How to study #hashtags: Hashtags are more than just trends; they're gateways to understanding online discourse. Explore how researchers utilize hashtags to identify topics, trace messages, and uncover influential voices.

  • How to Study YouTube or TikTok Videos: User-generated videos on platforms like YouTube and TikTok offer a unique lens into online culture. Delve into the methodologies behind studying these videos, employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches for comprehensive analysis.

  • Participate in our Generative AI Survey: Your input on responsibly using Large Language Models like ChatGPT and ClaudeAI is crucial for shaping ethical content creation practices and fostering a sustainable environment - share your insights!

  • Call for Submissions:

    Sage Research Methods Data and Scientific Literacy

    Get paid to contribute a case study, how-to guide, practise dataset, or feature in a professional video, and have your expertise highlighted in an award-winning teaching resource with a global reach. Our new collection will enable students and researchers to understand the reasoning behind qualitative and quantitative methodology/methods, and how to work with and evaluate data. Share your expertise on anything from choosing a method and sampling considerations to data management and ethics.

     

    Find out more about the resource and content formats by viewing this overview.

     

    If you are interested, please fill in the form below.

     

Upcoming webinars

“The saying goes, ‘If a farmer fills his barn with grain, he gets mice. If he leaves it empty, he gets actors.’ Like actors, researchers are always looking for an opening. If a means for communication opens, intrepid researchers will find a way to adapt it to their own objectives, shaking up the academic status quo along the way.”
— (Salmons, 2010)

  • How to do research in a digital world

    Join us for a unique webinar, live from the Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS) in Bochum, Germany. Janet Salmons, author of Doing Qualitative Research Online (2022) and CAIS fellow, will be joined by other visiting scholars for a conversation about using online methods to study digital trends, cultures, and communities. The panel will include:

    Dr. Esther Laufer: Director, Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS)College

    Azadeh Shams, M.A., “Digital Feminist Activism and Imagining the Future: Case Study of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” Movement in Iran”

    Prof. Dr. Edlyne E. Anugwom, “The Gig Economy and Labour Precarity In Nigeria: Evidence From The Fintech Sector”

    Hosted by Sage's Janet Salmons and Hannah Cherry, and featuring a Q&A session with the panel from CAIS, the webinar will provide essential guidance for anyone planning to collect data online and write about it.

    Register for this free event, part of Sage's How to Do Research and Get Published series.

    Register now

  • How to write and structure an article’s front matter

    Whether you're an early career researcher or a seasoned researcher, understanding how to effectively craft the front matter of your article is key to capturing your reader's attention and setting the stage for a compelling narrative. Join our expert presenters as they unravel the intricacies of front matter, guiding you through the process of creating a polished and impactful introduction to your work. From crafting an attention-grabbing title and constructing an informative abstract to strategically placing keywords and writing a compelling plain language summary, this webinar will equip you with the skills to optimize the visibility and discoverability of your article. This webinar is designed to enhance your understanding of the critical elements that make up the front matter of an article.

    Hosted by Sage's Jessica Offenberger and Sean Scarisbrick and featuring a Q&A session with prestigious guest speakers, the webinar will provide essential guidance for anyone hoping to get published in an academic journal.



    Register now

Sage Campus

Sage Campus offers a diverse range of courses to empower learners in academia. Collecting Social Media Data and Gather Your Data Online equip researchers with skills in data collection and analysis, while our newest FREE course, The Art of ChatGPT Interactions, enhances proficiency in utilizing ChatGPT effectively through prompt engineering and ethical interaction. Gain a deep understanding of AI tools and develop systematic skills, ensuring coherence and integrity in your interactions with the CLEAR framework.

Invest in your academic future with Sage Campus. Start your learning journey today! Get a 7-day free trial and recommend Sage Campus to your library.

Journals

Related Books

  • Doing Digital Methods

    2nd Edition

    By Richard Rogers

    Delve into the latest digital research methods with our second edition guide, offering insights into critical social media research, content analysis tips for platforms like TikTok and Twitter, and examinations of Google critique and YouTube content removal policies. Whether you're a beginner or exploring new platforms, equip yourself with the tools to navigate the evolving digital landscape and conduct rigorous studies.

  • Researching Digital Life

    Orientations, Methods and Practice

    By James Ash, Rob Kitchin, & Agnieszka Leszczynski

    In today's digitally mediated world, understanding digital life is paramount for scholars in social science and humanities. This comprehensive book serves as an indispensable guide to researching digital phenomena. It covers methodologies, research design, and ethics, detailing key methods such as interviews, surveys, ethnographies, and data analytics. Real-world studies on various digital aspects like apps, social media, and smart cities demonstrate these methods in action. Offering diverse perspectives, annotated readings, and future research directions, this accessible resource ensures successful planning and implementation of research projects.

  • Video Data Analysis

    How to Use 21st Century Video in the Social Sciences

    By Anne Nassauer & Nicolas M. Legewie

    Nominated for both the Ludwik Fleck Prize and the Robert K. Merton Book Award, this book explores the transformative potential of video data in social science research. It offers a flexible framework for analyzing various types of video data, from mobile phone footage to public surveillance videos. Through real research examples, it guides readers through each step of the research process, emphasizing ethical and effective use of video data. With a focus on contemporary technology and accessible platforms like YouTube and TikTok, this book serves as an essential toolkit for researchers and postgraduate students across the social sciences, catering to both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Interactive activities and curated reading suggestions further enhance its accessibility and practicality.

  • Doing Qualitative Research Online

    2nd Edition

    By Janet E. Salmons

    For newcomers to online research, this book offers a comprehensive foundation for confidently designing and executing internet-based projects. Beginning with an overview of online qualitative research, it progresses to practical guidance on studying various communication technologies. Covering established methods like document research and online interviews, as well as emerging approaches such as big data analysis, this second edition equips readers with decision-making skills for methodologies, methods, and technologies. Ethical considerations are emphasized across three dedicated chapters, supported by over 30 'Research Cameo' examples illustrating theory in practice. Authored by a seasoned scholar-practitioner in e-learning and online academia, this resource caters to social science students and researchers, providing online resources for further development of digital literacy and Internet research capabilities.