Challenges and Opportunities of Using Social Media for

Challenges and Opportunities of Using Social Media for Social Science Research Wednesday 9 th July 9. 15 am-12. 45 pm Convenor: Kandy Woodfield, Director of Learning Nat. Cen Social Research

Our panel n Blurring the boundaries: a network of researchers using social media – Kelsey Beninger, Nat. Cen Social Research n Social media and prediction - Dr Luke Sloan & Dr Matthew Williams, Cardiff University, COSMOS team n Using social media to curate a collaborative social research hub - Donna Peach, Huddersfield University n Tea and coffee break n Myths & mythologies - Jamie Bartlett & Carl Miller, Demos n From Flickr to Snapchat – Dr Farida Vis, Sheffield University

Blurring the boundaries? § New social media, new social science? § Network of methodological innovation § Funded by NCRM, May 2012 -May 2013 § 500+ members worldwide § Open membership, all welcome § Interdisciplinary § Peer network, member led Innovation Collaboration Inspiration Fresh thinking

Aims of the network Innovation Collaboration Inspiration Fresh thinking § On & off line community of practice § Forge links between academics, practitioners & disciplines § Catalyse debate § Address challenges social media present for social science research § Share approaches, tools & experiences of using social media Identify good practice § Co-created content & guidance to be shared with the wider community

What do we do Network activities across a range of platforms: § § Innovation Collaboration Inspiration Fresh thinking Twitter: @NSMNSS, #NSMNSS – tweets, twitter chats, Q&As Blogs: http: //nsmnss. blogspot. co. uk/ - we welcome contributors – contact us @NSMNSS or via the blog You Tube: http: //www. youtube. com/user/NSMNSS presentations from events Face to face events – knowledge exchange seminars, conferences, webinars

Blurring the boundaries: findings from a network of researchers using social media Kelsey Beninger Nat. Cen Social Research 6

What have we learnt? I § Social media being used in most soc sci disciplines § Research innovation & ground breaking use of technologies § Great examples of multi-disciplinary research using social media § Silos & divides do still exist and are counterproductive to moving social media methodology(ies) forward § No single methodology for social media research – many approaches, many tools, different epistemological stances

What have we learnt? II Persisting uncertainty about whether we are ‘getting it right’ § Ethical dilemmas - lack of consistent, relevant guidance § What are the political, ethical, legal issues? § Do we understand the digital world well enough to make these choices? § Lack of research with users of social media platforms or engagement with platform providers

What have we learnt? III ‘Getting it right’ is also about methodological quality: § What is a robust sample from Twitter or Facebook? § Need to develop methodological courage and confidence to defend the method Scepticism and cynicism persist § Digital literacy & methodological skills gaps § Lack of experience and understanding in institutions, ethics boards and funders

Context Social Media provides new opportunities § Recent studies: § Nat. Cen: www. natcen. ac. uk/our-research/ research-using-social-media-users-views/ § 10 NSMNSS: nsmnss. blogspot. co. uk

Challenges Recruitment & data collection Researcher identity & wellbeing Analysis & presentation of data

Recruitment & Data Collection Recruitment § Participant’s views: scepticism, acceptance and ambiguity. § Digital identities § Digital risks for participants § Exclusion of particular groups Informed consent 1. Morally and legally required 2. Promote trust 3. Verify user views haven’t changed 4. To publish photos or imagery Data Collection § Ownership and expectations

Researcher identity & wellbeing § Your digital identity § Impact on research outcomes § Managing communication w participants § Credibility and transparency

Analysis and presentation of data Analysis § Third Party Software § How much is too much? § Validity and representativeness § § People behave differently online and offline Exaggerated views Impulsive comments Inaccurate profiles Presentation § Traceability of participant data § Short & long term implications for participants

Recommendations § Is SM the right methodology for your research Q? § Don’t make assumptions § Review case studies & existing research Recruitment: § Transparency in materials § Explicit about privacy terms of the platform used Collecting/generating data: § Consider implications of legally permitted vs. intellectual property § Acknowledge limits of accessing different user types § Reporting results: § Test traceability of data, and paraphrase or remove handle § Reasonably seek consent for use of verbatim/sensitive content

Thank you! Questions? kelsey. beninger@natcen. ac. uk nsmnss@natcen. ac. uk