Pearse: I found that my training as a media researcher, a journalist and a film producer/director was actually great training to do my ethnographic studies. I was able to utilize everything from iPods to video cameras to still cameras to email to blogs to post data. I was able to get releases that combined with the IRB to protect the informants really personal data but to tell a story. Most filmmakers are taught documentaries early on because it is a long and exhaustive story that goes on and on without editing. In research, my job is easier because I don't have to edit at all. All I need to do is to create highlights for findings. With filmmaking, I can get direct quotes,and I get pre-interviews through email, text messaging or a wiki. These questions are essentially the same questions that I will ask in the live interview, but it gives me a chance to get immediate feedback with thought because it is in writing or through webcams. Further, the live recorded interviews move smoother because the participant develops rapport when one pursues more developed follow-up questions based on earlier answers. I would have loved to have had Flip HD cameras when I was collecting data back in 07. Chris A. Heidelberg, Ph.D. Loyola College of Maryland Faculty -----Original Message----- From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Pearse Stokes Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 6:33 AM To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: Re: [Air-L] virtual ethnography This debate is really getting going now! As far as virtual ethnography is concerned (and I think even our discussion here falls into some of these traps) there are some problems with it as it is generally performed. This first is just as Rhiannon illustrated "there is a tendency for internet researchers to play fast and loose with the term "ethnography." Interviewing on-line participants or "observing" on-line interaction is often just plain old qualitative research (which is perfectly legitimate) and the latter on its own might be discourse analysis. Part of what makes work ethnographic is the presentation of the data. I expect "thick descriptions" and substantial verbatim comments covering a range of participant experience, not a few illustrative snippets." Perhaps this stems from people conducting ethnography without 'proper training' or a wider cultural shift towards shorter, more journalistic articles (I'm certainly guilty of this) and reports for business consumption (also guilty). Furthermore within this discussion we talk about the 'virtual field'. My understanding of good ethnography is that is should be reflexive and holistic. Meaning we should perform a method (of research, of participation, of 'writing the culture') that is best suited to the particular field site. The 'virtual' is not a field site any more than 'the real' is. And so virtual ethnographers often fall into that same dichotomous relationship anthropologists of old did (and anthropologists since have worked so hard to shift) ... that is the 'anthropological gaze' upon the 'other'. Each research project should be approached with an awareness that the 'site' does not necessarily conform to our expectations in terms of where it begins and ends. In my recent research I have been writing about the 'Pro-Anorexia' phenomena. This started with some 'virtual ethnography' but I knew it would be more like cyber-anthropology once I started to really get down to it. A great deal of the report is identifying 'where' 'Pro-Ana' is, because just like all 'virtual' phenomena it transcends the 'virtual'. I'm sure everyone who is involved in this discussion will agree - as they are sitting in the REAL world, thinking and physically typing. So to research the 'virtual' is to assume a shape of your field site. It would be like Malinowski going to one Island in the Trobriands and deciding that was his only site or research - he would miss out on the whole Kula Ring!! As Laetitia said " we coul interpret this as a bit elitist." and Laetitia is right, but isn't this the place for such elitist discussion? ;) If you would like to read my report its here: cyberanthropology.wordpress.com Thanks for this great debate!! Pearse _______________________________________________ The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/