Online Groups as Research Context: Ethical Dilemmas

Trena M. Paulus; Mary Alice Varga

Online Groups as Research Context: Ethical Dilemmas

Research output: Contribution to conference › Presentation

Abstract

Due to divergent views of the ‘public’ nature Internet groups, the ethics of approaching them as qualitative data sources can be ambiguous. We discuss our own ethical decisions around studying the talk in an online grief support group. We also review how other published studies justified use of Internet group data, the terms of service agreements of online forums, and ethics guides of professional organizations. Finally, we make recommendations about ethical practices in these environments.

Original language	American English
State	Published - Jan 2013
Event	The Qualitative Report Fourth Annual Conference - Fort Lauderdale, FL Duration: Jan 1 2013 → …

Conference

Conference	The Qualitative Report Fourth Annual Conference
Period	1/1/13 → …

Keywords

ethical dilemmas
online groups
research context

Disciplines

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

Cite this

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title = "Online Groups as Research Context: Ethical Dilemmas",

abstract = " Due to divergent views of the {\textquoteleft}public{\textquoteright} nature Internet groups, the ethics of approaching them as qualitative data sources can be ambiguous. We discuss our own ethical decisions around studying the talk in an online grief support group. We also review how other published studies justified use of Internet group data, the terms of service agreements of online forums, and ethics guides of professional organizations. Finally, we make recommendations about ethical practices in these environments. ",

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author = "Paulus, \{Trena M.\} and Varga, \{Mary Alice\}",

year = "2013",

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language = "American English",

note = "The Qualitative Report Fourth Annual Conference ; Conference date: 01-01-2013",

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AU - Varga, Mary Alice

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AB - Due to divergent views of the ‘public’ nature Internet groups, the ethics of approaching them as qualitative data sources can be ambiguous. We discuss our own ethical decisions around studying the talk in an online grief support group. We also review how other published studies justified use of Internet group data, the terms of service agreements of online forums, and ethics guides of professional organizations. Finally, we make recommendations about ethical practices in these environments.

KW - ethical dilemmas

KW - online groups

KW - research context

M3 - Presentation

T2 - The Qualitative Report Fourth Annual Conference

Y2 - 1 January 2013

ER -