There is much literature emerging about online research ethics. In addition to the URLs and titles already mentioned, please see: "Research ethics in a virtual world. Guidelines and illustrations," by Nicholas W. Jankowski and Martine van Selm (2007). In Nico Carpentier, Pille Pruulmann-Vengerfeldt, Kaarle Nordenstreng, Maren Hartmann, Peeter Vihalemm, Bart Cammaerts, and Hannu Nieminen (eds.) Media technologies and democracy in an enlarged Europe. The intellectual work of the 2007 European media and communication doctoral summer school. Tartu: University of Tartu Press. Available for free at: <http://www.researchingcommunication.eu/reco_book3.pdf>http://www.researchingcommunication.eu/reco_book3.pdf. Nick Jankowski At 01:52 PM 3/7/2008, you wrote:
You may want to consider what has been published on the subject. The two references I know of off the top of my head that are decent and will help you think through the issues are: 1) http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7321/1103 2) www.apa.org/science/apainternetresearch.pdf