On the internet, everybody knows I'm a researcher/

May 28, 2007 12:11 PM

I'm going to do some online social research and am investigating methods. I've ordered this book and to supplement I am looking for the best articles, reference lists or even journals on online social science research methodology.

I've not narrowed the topic down to something paper-able yet but it'll deal with the political and religious expression of UK Muslim women online.

Other book recommendations are most welcome.

Many thanks for your help. I'm rusty at research and I want to get this right.

posted by By The Grace of God to Computers & Internet (7 answers total)

Are you doing an analysis of already existing web content, or are you interested in having people participate in some sort of research activity (like a survey) with you?
posted by carmen at 12:56 PM on May 28, 2007

Response by poster: I'll probably wind up doing a survey, but am interested in reading about analysis of existing web content as well.
posted by By The Grace of God at 1:30 PM on May 28, 2007

association of online internet researchers might have some resources/articles that point in the right direction.
posted by ejaned8 at 4:29 PM on May 28, 2007

If you're interested in qualitative research at all, Chris Mann & Fiona Stewart's book is a good one also. Also, when you go to the Association of Internet Researcher's site, as suggested by ejaned8, be sure to download and read the working committee on ethics report--it covers a lot of important issues from different perspectives. I'll also mention that searching through the AOIR listserv archives should be fruitful, as there have been many discussions about research methods, web survey tools, and various other related topics over the years. Somewhere in the darkest recesses of my file cabinet I have a list of sources related to web surveys, if I can find it I'll post that here as well.

Good luck!
posted by DiscourseMarker at 4:53 PM on May 28, 2007

I'm seconding AOIR!
posted by k8t at 5:10 PM on May 28, 2007

Also, you can do what all good social scientists do: read what other people have used for methods in somewhat similar situations and see what they've used for methods. I know, only from grading some undergrad papers, that people have studied preachers' wives online.

Also, what methods you use really depends on your theoretical perspective.

So, if you're going with a particularly theory, try searching your university's social science databases for your theory name + CMC...
posted by k8t at 7:17 PM on May 28, 2007

Journal of Computer Mediated Communication may be helpful as well.
posted by k8t at 7:19 PM on May 28, 2007