Online Social Research: Methods, Issues, and Ethics (Digital Formations)

Online Social Research: Methods, Issues, and Ethics is a collection of essays by veteran online researchers who provide testimonial illustrations as to how traditional research methods may be modified for effective online research as well as identify and discuss the critical issues and dilemmas encountered. The former serves as a resource for teachers, students, and researchers who utilize online environments for information gathering. The latter is designed to stimulate ongoing debates and creative ideas about an as yet nonregulated arena of research. Online Social Research addresses online research which are practiced in the fields of communication, journalism, sociology, psychology, marketing, education, medicine as well as related disciplines that may have occasions to utilize surveys, interviews, and observations for information gathering in online environments. Since this book deals with methodological consideration, it is designed as a text for research methods classes as well as a resource for researchers.

The Editors: Mark D. Johns is Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication/Linguistics at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. His research interests include social impacts of new communication technologies and intersections of media, religion, and culture.
Shing-Ling Sarina Chen is Associate Professor of Mass Communication at the University of Northern Iowa. Her research interests include communication technologies and social structures, electronic media and the community, audience experiences, and social relationships in cyberspace.
G. John Hall is Professor Emeritus at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI). He received his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. During his twenty-eight year tenture in the Department of Communication Studies at UNI, he has established a diversified record fo articles and papers for publication and presentation.