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? kelsey.beninger@natcen.ac.uk nsmnss@natcen.ac.uk