Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
5 RESEARCHING
USING INSTANT
MESSAGING AND
CHAT
Chapter summary
Instant Messaging is synchronous communication
Internet Relay Chat
Using IRC
Running a chat room
The previous chapter covered email, which is an asynchronous form of
communication, in which there is not necessarily a relationship between the
order that two correspondents read and write messages because of possible
delays in the transmission of the messages. Instant Messaging and Chat tech-
nologies are considered synchronous: the message appears directly on the
recipient's computer regardless of whether the recipient is composing a mes-
sage or not. Synchronous online communication has become more popular
and is growing, especially with younger users; it is safe to anticipate that in the
not-to-distant future it will be normative. As such, it is becoming a viable
option for researchers to conduct interviews and focus groups.
When considering IM for research, there are the typical challenges of dis-
cerning the most appropriate and user-friendly software, as well as making sure
everyone has access to a client and the administrative privilege to install it on
their computer. When employed, however, the advantages can be formidable.
Data are collected more rapidly than in an email method, the interaction has a
feel more like that of a traditional interview or focus group, and log files are
often cleaner due to fewer identifiers and less extraneous information than
appear in an email digest. In the following pages, we will offer information
about Instant Messaging and Chat, and provide some advice for how to estab-
lish a chat channel for conducting research.
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