Hi Jill, I have done a version of this in a class exercise where I divided the class into groups and each group had to find out as much as possible about either me or the other instructor. The rules where that they could not carry out any illegal acts but otherwise everything was allowed. The goal was not the actual information but the presentations where they had to interpret the information they found and to judge its reliability. At the time I had a large web presence while the other instructor had less of a web presence. Both of us had unique names, were at the same stage in our careers and about the same age. The project was interesting and most students had fun with it. One problem that we encountered was that many groups took out credit reports on us. This didn't really bother me but I admit I wasn't expecting this move. We also realized that we would have to prevent this in future exercises as taking out a large number of credit reports can impact ones credit rating (at least in Sweden). I think the project can be interesting and informed consent should cover the ethical question but as the situation above illustrates it is difficult to recognize the unforeseen consequences. Mathias On 21/08/14 08:05 am, Jill Walker Rettberg wrote:
One of our upper-level undergrads would like to write a paper about privacy using a slightly unusual methodology: he wants to find five informants who are willing to let him google them exhaustively in order to find out everything he can about them using legal, public online methods. Then he wants to show each informant the information and interview them, asking things like "did you know this information about you was accessible?" and more in order to find out something about what information people think is available about them, what is actually available about them, and how people feel about all the information out there about them and the possible disconnect between what they think and what is in fact out there.
My gut reaction is that I wouldn't want to let a researcher "stalk" me online like that, and if I wouldn't want to be an informant maybe I shouldn't allow the project, right? But I'm also guessing that the project might be approved by the ethics board so long as there is clear, informed consent. And it'd be interesting to see the results.
But beyond the ethics board: what do you think about a methodology like this? Do you share my gut reaction or am I overreacting? Would you let a student do it? And what might be better ways for a student to do a small scale research project on this topic?
Jill
Jill Walker Rettberg Professor of Digital Culture Dept of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies University of Bergen Postboks 7800 5020 Bergen
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My latest book, Blogging (2nd ed), will be available from Polity from September 20: http://www.politybooks.com/book.asp?ref=0745663648
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-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mathias Klang, Associate Professor, University of Göteborg Website: http://klangable.com US Cell: 215 882 0989 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~