Research Methods for the Online World (5cr)

Objective

After completing the course students:- understand the basics and special characteristics of onlineresearch methodologies- are familiar with the basic characteristics of some keyquantitative and qualitative online research methodologies- recognize issues concerning access, social divisions and thedigital divide in online research- understand issues concerning the ethics of online research- can search, read and interpret international research articlespertaining to the topics of the course

Content

Using Internet in research opens up both challenges andpossibilities regarding methodological, practical and ethicalissues. This course focuses on considering, how the Internet andthe social networks in it should be approached from themethodological point of view. Are old methodological approachesstill appropriate, or should they be updated in to new era or isthere a need for a whole new set of methods? How to get a hold ofever flowing virtual reality that is spreading ubiquitously andsynchronously everywhere? The course opens up discussions anddebates on research 'on' and 'in' the Internet as a socio-culturalcontext of human interaction.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

5-1/fail

Materials

More literature information and extra material
Fielding, N., Lee, R. M., & Blank, G. (2008).　 The SAGE handbook of online research methods. Los Angeles:SAGE. 
Other literature will be announced in the beginning of thecourse.

Execution methods

20 hours of lectures, including discussions, group work andexercises. The lectures are interactive by their nature and requireparticipation in the discussion as well as in the exercises to beperformed before and during the lectures and at home.

Accomplishment methods

Active participation in lectures and discussions, individual andgroup assignments.