Public domain or private data? Developing an ethical approach to social media research in an inter-disciplinary project.

Stevens, Gemma; O'Donnell, Victoria L.; Williams, Lynn

doi:10.1080/13803611.2015.1024010

Authors

Gemma Stevens

Victoria L. O'Donnell

Lynn Williams

Abstract

This paper discusses the ethical issues faced in undertaking research about the role of learning in the subjective experience of chronic illness, where data were taken from social media. Drawing on psychology and education, this paper discusses the ways in which authors from these disciplines are laying the groundwork for legitimate online research by actively debating the public versus private nature of online spaces. The paper explains how this debate informed the development of an ethical approach to research. Relevant ethical guidelines and previous research are used to support the argument that individuals' informed consent is not necessary in online contexts where data exist within the public domain, and where risk of harm to users is low. This paper provides an insight into one educational researcher's journey through the process of doing ethical social media research, and suggests ways forward for others embarking upon that same journey.

Citation

STEVENS, G., O'DONNELL, V.L. and WILLIAMS, L. 2015. Public domain or private data? Developing an ethical approach to social media research in an inter-disciplinary project. Educational research and evaluation [online], 21(2), pages 154-167. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/13803611.2015.1024010

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Apr 14, 2015
Online Publication Date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication Date	Apr 30, 2015
Deposit Date	Apr 10, 2018
Publicly Available Date	Apr 10, 2018
Journal	Educational research and evaluation
Print ISSN	1380-3611
Electronic ISSN	1744-4187
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	21
Issue	2
Pages	154-167
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1080/13803611.2015.1024010
Keywords	Social media research; Online ethics; Public domain; Private data; Cyberspace
Public URL	http://hdl.handle.net/10059/2870