I thought we were discussing textual analysis (of online texts) not ethnography. If I am analysing a public forum/blog/wiki,facebook site in which I do not intervene then no ethics clearance is necessary. It is a published document. If I question or comment in the forum only then does it become human subject research - I am intervening in their lives - but it would still qualify for expedited clearance as low-risk, being public. Marj Dr Marjorie Kibby, Senior Lecturer in Communication & Culture Faculty of Education and Arts The University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia Marj.Kibby@newcastle.edu.au +61 2 49216604
Ed Lamoureux <ell@bumail.bradley.edu> 08/12/07 12:35 PM >>> I think this is an IRB that pretty clearly understands, via experience, ethnographic methods.