- Air-L - lists.aoir.org

ethics of recording publicly observed interactions
by Carol Perryman 11 May '04

11 May '04

>ed wrote >>>I've always let the test be that I, as researcher, am out in the open in >>>the plain view of the subject. If they are speaking loudly enough that I >>>can hear without any special equipment, or effort, I treat the >>>conversation as public talk freely available for analysis (and >>>recording). In the case of the cell phone, I am not "tapping" the phone >>>call illegally cause I can't hear the other side of the conversation. > On May 10, 2004, at 6:35 AM, Radhika Gajjala wrote: >> >>but you'd be amazed at how shocked they would be if they then saw their >>words quoted in a public(ation) text. >> >But you'd be amazed at how shocked I am to have to listen to their talk in >the first place. If the talk IS private, I should not be able to hear it >without special equipment. If I can, it's not private talk, no matter what >"they expect." The subjects set the expectations themselves. If they talk >in a way that others in public can't hear . . . it's private. If they >don't, it's public. Please pardon what is probably a naiive comment, but it appears that the concepts of ethics are here conflated with an expectation of _politeness_ and an understandable annoyance at the intrusiveness of this rude public behavior. I am reminded, reading this very interesting discussion, of Japanese practices wherein one pretends not to hear. In fact, talking with a South Korean friend, she tells me that when two people are speaking, and one other enters the area, it's quite common that this third person would receive no greeting, and nor would one be expected. Space is so limited that this mutual pretense is (or had been) employed as a virtual wall of privacy. There appears to be a similar expectation in some areas of the web. >>What is invaded is the Individual's *sense* of privacy - whatever the >>medium used. >Again. The sense of privacy has already been invaded. Not by the >researcher . . . but by the subjects, themselves who have taken a private >matter into the public domain. I agree that the medium doesn't matter . . . >the fact that they are holding a small plastic device to the side of their >head doesn't mean that I've got to go suddenly deaf and and become unable >to write. But their carrying on their private business loudly in my >knowing presence means that they have included me in the talk, albeit as >audience, but as approved participant nevertheless. I cannot agree with this. That we can hear it is annoying - but that we can record it appears intrusive. Using this argument, if I observed my neighbor telling off his kid - loudly - in the kitchen next door with the windows open, I should feel completely justified in doing what I wished with what I heard. Analysis is another story. All is setting, right? And certainly it would inform our more formal inquiry. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Carol Perryman Graduate School of Library & Information Science University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign cp1757(a)hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself with the new version of MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/

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RE: Joint AoIR ASIS&T EC workshop/ Organiser message
by Irene Berkowitz 11 May '04

11 May '04

---- Original message ---- Date: Mon, 10 May 2004 22:54:14 +0100 From: "Thelwall, Mike (Dr)" <M.Thelwall(a)wlv.ac.uk> RE: Joint AoIR ASIS&T EC workshop/ Organiser message SUBJECT: Call for abstracts and participation TEXT: The web as a mirror of scientific and technical chievements: issues in access and measurement Workshop at the AoIR conference, 19-22nd September 2004 http://aoir.org/2004/ Organisers: Mike Thelwall (University of Wolverhampton, UK), m.thelwall(a)wlv.ac.uk Andrea Scharnhorst (Nerdi/NIWI, The Netherlands) Irene Berkowitz (Temple University, USA) Lennart Björneborn (Royal School of Library and Information Science,Denmark) Christine Hine (University of Surrey, UK) Michael Nentwich (Austrian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Technology Assessment) Steve Schneider (SUNY Institute of Technology, USA) Henry Small (Chief Scientist of Thomson ISI, USA) Liwen Vaughan (University of Western Ontario, Canada) Michel J. Menou (ASIS&T international liaison officer) Co-sponsored by: The European Chapter of the American Society for Information Science & Technology - ASIS&T/EC (www.asis.org/Chapters/europe/) The European Union funded project WISER - Web Indicators for Science,Technology & Innovation Research (www.webindicators.org) The Communication and Information Technology section of the American Sociological Association The academic journals "Cybermetrics" and "Online Information Review" Scope and objectives The web has changed the way in which many researchers conduct research, communicate their findings and share data. In some research fields, such as high-energy physics, online posting of preprints is standard practice. In others, such as astronomy, the maintenance of large shared online data banks is common, fundamentally changing the way in which scientists operate. Other changes are less dramatic, but more universal, such as the widespread creation of public home pages for individual researchers and research groups. There is a need for assessing the impact of the myriad web uses and for the identification of the potential and actual impact of the web. This workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss quantitative and quantitative approaches to studying academic web use. The themes of the conference will be: * Scientific collaboration and communication on the Web: new opportunities,new social organisation. * Measuring science on the web: new techniques. * Publishing research online: adaptation and innovation. * Disciplinary differences in web use. * Individual case studies. * Large scale analyses. Submission Process The structure of the workshop is different from the usual format. The aim is to create a lively discussion about relevant topics rather than to be based around a few speakers giving presentations. The following procedure is therefore proposed. Those interested in participating should submit to: Mike Thelwall m.thelwall(a)wlv.ac.uk by June 26, 2004 an abstract (750 words maximum) of a position paper dealing with any aspect of the above topics. Abstracts will be refereed. Authors of accepted contributions will be notified by July 31, 2004. They will be invited to provide an expanded abstract or short paper (2500 words maximum) and to register for the workshop on the conference web site by August 31, 2004. Expanded abstracts and short papers will be circulated among workshop participants (and possibly posted on the ASIS&T/EC web site) with a view to allow for an advance discussion that will take place on the ASIS&T/EC listserv. At the workshop the discussion will be arranged around 3 main topics: scientific collaboration and communication, measuring science on the web, and publishing research online. For each one, participants will be invited to very briefly summarize their positions before a general discussion takes place. We anticipate that most participants will have the opportunity to present. Participants wishing to distribute their position statements as handouts or posters are welcome to do so. Summaries of the sessions will be published in Cybermetrics and Online Information Review. Irene Berkowitz Director of Curricular Publications Temple University Office of the Vice Provost 215-204-7596 Please note my new email address below and update your address records accordingly. irene.berkowitz(a)temple.edu

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ethics of recording publicly observed interactions
by ET 11 May '04

11 May '04

Perhaps Carol, we could look at this interaction business in some other ways. What should I do if I want to research and analyse the Letters to the Editor page in the New York Times? Should I ask the NYT to post a warning that I may be recording what people write about? And what happens if there are hundreds of people conducting research on the NYT Letters to the Editor page? Should the newspaper clog their pages with warning messages about the research activities going on? Lets look at a possible example of newsgroup research. Lets imagine that I get permission from one of usenets most prolific publishers of pornographic material to observe him and identify him in my research. He has consented so there should be no problem. What if his fervently religious wife is humiliated by this public recognition of his activities and she commits suicide? What if his children suffer? And what of his yet to be born children? How can I , the researcher, be responsible for other people and how they may be hurt? If we treat all utterances in the public domain as fair game then we are able to retain our sanity and its easy to identify a consistent standard. People carrying on a loud conversation on a train, or speaking into a mobile phone in a public place, or writing a Letter to the Editor, or posting to a publily open newsgroup are all accepting the same risk when they undertake these activities. They must assume that their communication is being observed by other people who may comment about it, record it, analyse it etc - and if they do not wish for this to occur the solution is very simple, dont make such utterances publicly. Life is a pretty simple business when we sweep away the bulldust, why must we complicate it ? see ya Eero Tarik Adelaide

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researchers ???
by ET 11 May '04

11 May '04

Dr Allen (Matt) wrote... "What we ended up with is not for me to judge...I think we do well at it, but mostly because we have students *like* ET :)" struth ! there are more like me around??? How do you people ever get to sleep at night :-) Anyhow, I would just like to add that I think you ladies and gentlemen at Curtin do an excellent job. You are providing an opportunity that would otherwise not exist and doing so in a cutting edge environment. It can not be an easy thing to achieve when the floor beneath you is being constantly moved by changing technologies. When I think of the wide variety of ages, experiences and hopes of the people who have been in my "classes" so far, it really is a sensational set up that you, Matt, and your crew, have put together with Curtin, the Open Learning organisation and the WebCT facility. I wouldnt hesitate for a moment in recommending the course to others, indeed I am always promoting to those I meet how fantastic it is to actually be able to "study" the internet, rather than just being hostage to it. Matt also wrote... "A kind of valuable arts-major in Internet Studies, embedded in a degree that permitted choice and recognised prior experience, leading to a professional status, in a field where there are no 'professions'." I suspect Matt that the commercial world is just waiting for someone to define what an internet researcher is, and to show it how to use one. I can imagine a world where internet researchers are a vital part of every large corporate entity - in an obvious manner. Lets face it, the commercial opportunities being harvested from the internet today by business are so elementary when one considers the massive potential. Anyhow, thats another subject for another day... Back to the original subject - finally, I must say a big thank you to all those staff who have to put up with me. Whilst this may surprise many of you AoIRer's who no doubt see me as a calm and relaxed fellow, I am actually a very vocal and questioning student and tend not to accept what is put before me at face value. Sometimes one just has to take a stand - as in the case against Mr Barlow and his declaration, or this business about there being a cyberspace or this issue of ethics. And not to mention a certain software product that annoyed me with its wrong results last week. Could I accept a wrong result ? No .... and it only took me 20 hours to pull the log files apart with a spreadsheet and find the truth, but in the process nearly driving the lecturer mad, again :-) (I hope you are paying him well) I have no doubt that the journey in this area has just begun and by drawing in students from around the world with courses such as yours Matt, your department will be a key player in placing this talent into the major corporations of the world as they hungrily venture forth into largely unexplored territory. see ya Eero Tarik Adelaide

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RE: [Air-l] researchers ???
by Matthew Allen 11 May '04

11 May '04

As the evil genie who unleashed the BA course ET is doing on the unsuspecting public, including saying 'Internet researcher' as one of the outcomes.... I should probably add a few words here :) One of the problems we in Internet Studies faced at Curtin Uni is the history as a technical college that became an institute of technology that became a university. As a result, for complicated reasons, there's no point ni, nor capacity to, offer a traditional 'cyberculture' or similar major within a BA, to be taken alongside and overlapping with majors such as history, english lit, media studies. Nor, because of the boundaries between schools and faculties, could we create the 'perfect' new media/new social network course - too many players and complications. We also wanted to embody something of the 'new' about the Internet - a course/program that was about a new kind of professional 'net-worker' who would have an array of skills and abilities, depending on what electives they choose - marketing, computing etc - underpinned by a deep consciousness about social technology, scepticism about 'technofetishism', appreciation of the power of the network etc etc. A kind of valuable arts-major in Internet Studies, embedded in a degree that permitted choice and recognised prior experience, leading to a professional status, in a field where there are no 'professions'. What we ended up with is not for me to judge...I think we do well at it, but mostly because we have students *like* ET :) Matt Dr Matthew Allen Associate Professor Internet Studies Associate Dean Teaching and Learning, Humanities Curtin University of Technology, CRICOS 00301J Australia m.allen(a)curtin.edu.au http://smi.curtin.edu.au/netstudies/allen.htm +61 8 92663511 (v) +61 8 9266 3166 (f) Vice-President, Association of Internet Researchers http://www.aoir.org -----Original Message----- From: ET [mailto:et@tarik.com.au] Sent: Tuesday, 11 May 2004 4:44 PM To: air-l(a)aoir.org Subject: re:[Air-l] researchers ??? Bram wrote... "But then I became a regulator; now I'm a law student: things change. What motivates your interest, Eero?" Hi Bram, I am currently engaged in a tussle with an internet studies degree course and had noted that one of the career outcomes suggested for graduates is internet researcher. Since I couldnt remember coming across this position description in the job ads I thought I would ask if anyone is specifically engaged in such a position :-) The replies have been interesting. regards, Eero Tarik Adelaide _______________________________________________ Air-l mailing list Air-l(a)aoir.org http://www.aoir.org/mailman/listinfo/air-l

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re:[Air-l] researchers ???
by ET 11 May '04

11 May '04

Bram wrote... "But then I became a regulator; now I'm a law student: things change. What motivates your interest, Eero?" Hi Bram, I am currently engaged in a tussle with an internet studies degree course and had noted that one of the career outcomes suggested for graduates is internet researcher. Since I couldnt remember coming across this position description in the job ads I thought I would ask if anyone is specifically engaged in such a position :-) The replies have been interesting. regards, Eero Tarik Adelaide

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Reminder: Community Work Symposium - May 21
by T.L. Taylor 10 May '04

10 May '04

This is a reminder about an upcoming event. On Friday, May 21 2004, The ITU's Center for Computer Games Research will be hosting an all-day symposium entitled "Community Work: Managing Multiplayer Culture." Multiplayer game designers and administrators are not simply engaged in creating stable game structures and systems of play but are deeply involved in the creation of communities, cultures, and behaviors. While much has been discussed around the technical challenges MMOG's pose, this symposium takes up the subject of community management and suggests that the design and maintenance of these vibrant worlds pose some of the most interesting challenges facing games today. Speakers for the event are Richard Bartle, Edward Castronova, Julian Dibbell, and Jessica Mulligan. The symposium is free but registration is required by May 14 (we are providing lunch). *** Spaces are filling up quickly so please register soon! *** For full details please visit http://game.itu.dk/comwork/. Look forward to seeing you all in Copenhagen! :) TL -- ___________________________________ T.L. Taylor, Assistant Professor Center for Computer Games Research Dept. of Digital Aesthetics and Communiction IT University of Copenhagen Glentevej 67, 2400-DK NV Copenhagen +45 38 16 89 61 (tele) / +45 38 16 88 99 (fax) tltaylor(a)itu.dk / http://www.itu.dk/~tltaylor/

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RE: [Air-l] ethnography and ethics
by Kevin Tharp 10 May '04

10 May '04

For the sake of furthering the ethics discussion: How would you proceed with an investigation of the conversations that people have using mobile phones in public places such as the bus or train. This is a situation where lines of public and private are blurred as one sided presentations of sometimes very private conversations are performed on what can be a very public stage. Kevin W. Tharp Community Informatics Officer Senior Research Officer Faculty of Informatics & Communication Central Queensland University Rockhampton, Queensland Australia 07 4923 2566 k.tharp(a)cqu.edu.au http://infocom.cqu.edu.au/Staff/Kevin_Tharp/

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AoIR Internet Research Annual!
by Nancy Baym 10 May '04

10 May '04

Hello everyone, The Association of Internet Researchers has just published our first Internet Research Annual culling many of the best papers from our first three conferences. Here is the information: Internet Research Annual: Selected Papers from the Association of Internet Researchers Conferences 2000-2002, Volume 1 Edited by Mia Consalvo, Nancy Baym, Jeremy Hunsinger, Klaus Bruhn Jensen, John Logie, Monica Murero, and Leslie Regan Shade Digital Formations, Volume 19 $29.95 / 296 pages / Paperback / Spring 2004 Internet Research Annual offers a selection of the best work presented at the first three conferences of the Association of Internet Researchers, and provides a useful overview of the cutting-edge in Internet studies. Established scholars and new researchers address issues such as communities on/off line, the Internet as a methodological tool and space for research, and the places, politics, and policies of the Internet, creating a volume that comprehensively covers the field of Internet research. Also included are a brief history of the organization, a list of previously published papers from the conferences, and works by several of the keynote speakers including Phil Agre, Barbara Warnick, Bill Dutton, Sheizaf Rafaeli, Susan Herring, Robin Mansell, and much more. You can download the table of contents by clicking on the Sample Download section of the book's site: http://commerce.peterlangusa.com/genBook.asp?CategoryName=Media+Studies&Pro… In the next few days I will be emailing (paid) AoIR members information on how to get a 20% discount on the book. AoIR members also receive discounted registration at the conference and discounts on a number of journals (in addition to knowing they've done their part to keep this association on its fiscal feet). To join, click here: http://aoir.org/join My many thanks to Mia Consalvo for seeing this project through, and for the work she is doing on next year's annual! Nancy -- Nancy Baym http://www.ku.edu/home/nbaym Communication Studies, University of Kansas Bailey Hall, 1440 Jayhawk Blvd., Room 102, Lawrence, KS 66045-7574, USA Association of Internet Researchers: http://aoir.org

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[cultstud-l] Crossroads2004 - General Program Announcement
by david silver 10 May '04

10 May '04

---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 10 May 2004 01:55:02 -0500 From: Michael D. Giardina <giardina(a)uiuc.edu> Reply-To: Cultural Studies <cultstud-l(a)mailman.acomp.usf.edu> To: cultstud-l(a)mailman.acomp.usf.edu Subject: [cultstud-l] Crossroads2004 - General Program Announcement (5/10/04) (Apologies for cross-postings; please circulate) General Program Announcement Crossroads in Cultural Studies Conference University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign June 25-28, 2004 We are living in a time of global uncertainty when violence is everywhere, democracy is under attack, and the United States is engaged in a war without end, a permanent war on the world. A politics of fear has offset a politics of hope. In light of these uncertain and violent times, poets, writers, artists and cultural studies scholars from across the world will gather together in common purpose to seek a new politics of resistance and hope. At the Fifth International Crossroads in Cultural Studies Conference, we will advocate nonviolent regimes of truth that honor culture, universal human rights and the sacred. We will explore critical methodologies that protest, resist and help us represent and imagine radically free utopian spaces. The Crossroads conference, themed “Policing the Crisis,” will take place on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus from June 25-28, 2004. The Institute of Communications Research, in conjunction with the Association for Cultural Studies, will host the conference with 135 sessions covering a wide range of topics such as critical pedagogies in the age of global empire, negotiating research with the subaltern, and the politics of culture. The conference is expected to draw more than 600 attendees from various disciplines in the humanities and social sciences and feature renowned scholars from 40 countries. The keynote speakers will be Lawrence Grossberg (UNC-Chapel Hill), who will address the unrealized legacies of cultural studies, and Meaghan Morris (Lingnan University, Hong Kong). Three plenary sessions are also scheduled, and include speakers such as: Bryant Keith Alexander, California State University, Los Angeles; Lauren Berlant, University of Chicago; C.L. Cole, University of Illinois; Christopher Dunbar, Jr., Michigan State University; Joe L. Kincheloe, CUNY Graduate Center Peter McLaren, University of California at Los Angeles; Toby Miller, New York University; Paula Saukko, University of Exeter; Keyan G. Tomaselli, University of Natal, South Africa; and Mary E. Weems, Ohio University. Numerous other festivities include Spotlight Sessions on Africa in a Global World, Sport in the Global Popular, and War, Media, and Democracy; a special roundtable that reflects on the landmark 1990 conference “Cultural Studies Now and in the Future” organized by Paula Treichler, Cary Nelson, and Lawrence Grossberg; a publisher’s workshop; and an opening reception. To register for the conference, visit our Web site at www.crossroads2004.org. You can save up to $25 by registering before May 15. A detailed program and information on housing and travel can also be found on the Web site. For general inquiries, contact us at cfp(a)crossroads2004.org. NOTE FOR PRESENTERS: If you have already contacted us with corrections to the program, these may not yet be reflected on the downloadable version (our online version is updated once per week). Be assured, however, that any corrections you have requested will appear in the final version. Yours most sincerely, Michael D. Giardina (for Norman K. Denzin, Conference Director)

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