Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
12
SOME
ADDITIONAL
CHALLENGES
FOR ONLINE
RESEARCHERS
Chapter summary
•
To lurk or not to lurk?
•
The meaning of privacy in the online environment
•
Private or public?
•
The meaning of ownership online
•
What does it mean to be a virtual persona?
•
Conducting research with minors
Throughout this book we've tried to offer practical tips and illustrations to
assist you in your online research endeavors. We feel that we've gathered a
great deal of information in this one location, but also know that in some
respectswehavebarelyscratchedthesurface.Therearetoomanyapplications,
toomanytechniques,andtoomanyindividualizednuancesinonlineresearch
for us to cover comprehensively every last detail. It is our intention that this
bookwillbecomeapointofreferenceforyouinyourresearch,andserveasa
beginner'sguideasyouventureintotheworldofonlineresearch.
In the same way that there are many software applications and research
techniques, there are also many subtleties in the online environment. While
we'vecoveredmanyaspectsinthesectionsondesigningyourresearch,partic-
ularlyinthesectionaddressingethicalissues,thereare,ofcourse,manyother
thingswecouldsayaboutconductingresearchonline.Beforeconcludingthis
book,though,wewouldliketoofferafewmoreconsiderationsuniquetothe
onlineenvironment.Itisourthoughtthatthesetopicsdonotlendthemselves
to a particular method, but rather speak more broadly about research in the
virtualworld.Inanyevent,wewanttosharethemwithyou,ourreader,before
bringingthisprojecttoaclose.
