I am so tempted to say "read my book" - but its not out yet. And really I provide no absolute formulas either. Besides there's a lot of people (some on this list) who address these issues very well. I suspect this is what this thread is about - wanting the answers before attempting the actual investigation at length - and engaging the context with all its complexities and contradictions. What Beverley suggests takes on another kind of "nuance" in online spaces. Didnt someone on this list already say - "get out there in the field" and START (and yes digital spaces are "fields" and have very real effects and consequences too). Also - do a lit search. r At 08:53 AM 5/11/2004 -0700, you wrote:
--- Beverly Trayner <btrayner@esce.ips.pt> wrote:
Observing and recording people's interactions for research purposes without their permission conjures up images for me of a prison guard in a panoptican; a guard regardless of whether "the prisoner" is talking loudly or softly on their mobile phone, or writing in public discussion forums.
OK, but what about online spaces that could be considered forms of panopticon, such as the chat room, where anyone in the chat room (well, at least those who remain visible) can be observed by a variety of people at any given time? I realize there is a difference since researchers use data for academic purposes, but what about others in the space that also may observe and record what a person is saying? I think that the technology of online spaces needs to be taken into account. If a person enters this space, is it merely the researcher who acts as a form of the panopticon or the technology and the many others (in the chat room, for example) who are actively observing and, perhaps, recording in the space?
Janet A.
===== Janet Armentor, Doctoral Student Sociology Department, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs Syracuse University email: jlarment@maxwell.syr.edu
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