# data[].attributes.body
Where research draws on social media and online communities, it is important to remember that digital information is generated by individuals. Researchers should not assume that the name given and/or identity presented by participants in online fora or media is a ‘real’ name: it might be an avatar. This avatar could represent a human or a bot, but behind either will be one or more human creators responsible for it, who could therefore be regarded as participants; whether and how these potential participants might be traceable should be considered. Where an organisation shares its data with researchers, those researchers have a responsibility to account for how and with what consent that data was gathered; they must also consider the authorship of that data and, consequently, whether it is necessary to independently approach the relevant individuals for consent concerning its use. Researchers should keep up to date with changes in data use regulations and advice.

# data[].attributes.body
n many cases the producers of publicly accessible data may not have considered the fact that it might be used for research purposes, and it should not be assumed that such data is available for researchers to use without consent. Researchers should be attuned to differences between, for example, policy documents, governing body minutes and charitable trust reports that are written with the expectation that they are available for public use or accountability, and data that appear to be in the public domain yet are produced for a range of purposes (in blogs, social media, online discussion forums, face-to-face presentations or meetings, for example). Seeking consent would not normally be expected for data that have been produced expressly for public use. There is no consensus, however, as to whether those in online communities perceive their data to be either public or private, even when copyrights are waived. Therefore, consent is an issue to be addressed with regard to each and any online data-source, with consideration given to the presumed intent of the creators of online content, the extent to which it identifies individuals or institutions, and the sensitivity of the data. See the sources listed in the below footnote for further guidance.⁷

# data[].attributes.body
Consideration should be given to whether and how best to approach online communities (through members, gatekeepers or moderators, for example), or those involved in face-to-face public events and spaces, in order to inform them about the intended research.

# data[].attributes.body
In online research contexts, if authors of postings or other material withdraw or delete data then that data should not be used in research. However, since it will not be possible for researchers to identify such withdrawals after data has been harvested, a proviso could be offered that the data were ‘as made available to the public at the [stated] date of harvesting’.

# data[].attributes.body
Anonymity is much harder to guarantee in digital contexts. The policies of some social media sites which require identification at signup may exacerbate this. Researchers need to be aware that participants’ understandings of their level of privacy in a particular online space may be inaccurate. Ambiguity about privacy within some online communities in which sensitive or illegal topics are being discussed, or material shared, raise further ethical concerns. Relatedly, researchers should consider the question of what online content, in what circumstances, they would be obligated to report to relevant authorities and/or online service providers, bearing in mind any agreements entered into regarding confidentiality and anonymity (see paragraphs 52 and 53, on disclosure). Researchers using data gathered in such contexts should inform the community concerned about how the data will be used.

# data[].attributes.body
Having carried out elements of research online, there are specific issues I have encountered in online research that wouldn't happen by traditional means, such as participants 'following' me on social media, and the potential for them to 'out themselves' as participants inadvertently to a very large number of people. This is stressful for the researcher and I think some guidance on how to manage research online, particularly as an active participant, would be really helpful.

# data[].attributes.body
Advice for researchers about recognising that disinformation exists and is growing online
Advice about how to navigate our way in the online space 'polluted' with 'fake news', how distinguish 'true' from 'false'

# data[].attributes.body
A lot of international guidance suggests that you should follow the same 'rules' you would do if recruiting participants offline - but it is really different.

# data[].attributes.body
'Researchers should keep up to date with changes in data use regulations and advice' - addition: in the relevant geopolitical context

# data[].attributes.body
'Consideration should be given to whether and how best to approach online communities' - add: Consideration should be given to whether, when and how best to approach online communities

(the when is important as it reflects the idea that, for example, ethical approval may have to be sought before even making this initial contact to see whether any participants/content could be harvested)

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- constantly increasing technological advancement
- blurring of the boundary between the digital and the non-digital part of research (the latter one relating for example to storing data using IT)
- growing interconnectedness among different contexts in the world and at the same time the need to acknowledge persisting differences among different geopolitical contexts and inequalities in the society (with some voices being silenced in the digital world) which has implications on how we do research, what is deemed as safe, how we may reproduce world inequalities through doing digital research, how we can publicise research results without harming anyone
- turning to digital research more than ever in the context of the first lockdowns and the post-lockdown world

# data[].attributes.headline
Exclusionary nature of digital research 

# data[].attributes.subject
Exclusionary nature of digital research 

# data[].attributes.body
While it may seem at first sight that everything is getting digitised and the world is becoming interconnected, there are still a lot of pockets of the society around the globe, including in Western countries, that do not have access to IT, the internet. This has implications on how represented their voices are in the digital world, and subsequently, in digital research

# data[].attributes.headline
Definition of digital research and its aspects

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Definition of digital research and its aspects

# data[].attributes.body
e.g., is doing interviews online within the same boundaries of digital research as dealing with online communities;
e.g., is digitising data through the usage of software that may expose the data to third parties as aspect of digital research (e.g., transcribing interviews through online transcription services)

# data[].attributes.headline
Points from the second column about which issues are not covered 

# data[].attributes.subject
Points from the second column about which issues are not covered 

# data[].attributes.headline
CS1: Twitter, data collection and informed consent

# data[].attributes.subject
CS1: Twitter, data collection and informed consent

# data[].attributes.body
This is one of three published CSs. This CS (7pages long) is directly relevant to digital research. It is very helpful with regard to thinking about informed consent.
However, I am recalling a discussion at Nottingham Trent University that it is better to seek consent of social media posts' authors to use their posts before anonymising and using them (in a way what the PhD candidate in the CS opted for). It's interesting to see that anonymising and not seeking permission could be an option while the risks are acknowledged.

# data[].attributes.headline
A very useful addition to the Ethics Guidelines

# data[].attributes.subject
A very useful addition to the Ethics Guidelines

# data[].attributes.body
It'd be good to have more of such case studies grouped by headings. Maybe an open call for case studies with a group like ours reviewing them.

# data[].attributes.headline
Lockdown - massive increase in online tools being used in education

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Lockdown - massive increase in online tools being used in education

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Recommend a prompt: Consider before starting recruitment planning your researcher identity and how the recruitment process might affect this. Separate profiles can be set up on social media but while there are pros in terms of separating personal and professional/researcher identities and cons in terms of making yourself less approachable. Could also keep use of different social media separate for different activities.

# data[].attributes.body
Something in the guidance about social media and digital research having unintended consequences and that your ethical approval might not cover everything that happens - it is a fast moving world. Having someone to talk to / resources / case studies that explore some of these, and how they can be overcome, would be very comforting and reassuring.

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Tension: move towards open data (datasets available for external scrutiny) and authors of online content that was harvested deleting it at a later date

# data[].attributes.subject
Tension: move towards open data (datasets available for external scrutiny) and authors of online content that was harvested deleting it at a later date

# data[].attributes.body
It is mentioned in paragraph 32 about the date of harvesting ('if authors of postings or other material withdraw or delete data then that data should not be used in research. However, since it will not be possible for researchers to identify such withdrawals after data has been harvested, a proviso could be offered that the data were ‘as made available to the public at the [stated] date of harvesting’'). However, this does not remove the tension: what if the data (e.g., a deleted post) is presented in its original form in the data set that has been published with the harvested date.

Maybe this needs to be rethought and open datasets in the cases when they contain something that may be deleted later should not contain the exact posts or full posts OR the data sets should be restricted or something regarding this should be acknowledged

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Re Page 10 section 11, 14... add the importance of Data Protection responsibilities of the institution/setting including meeting with the Data Protection Officer

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Re Page 10 section 11, 14... add the importance of Data Protection responsibilities of the institution/setting including meeting with the Data Protection Officer

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Kerry please could you add something more about the importance and consequences of this?

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Data Protection Act (2018) and addendums post BREXIT

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Data Protection Act (2018) and addendums post BREXIT

# data[].attributes.headline
Need to overturn idea that recruiting online is straightforward. Another consequence could be over recruitment. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Need to overturn idea that recruiting online is straightforward. Another consequence could be over recruitment. 

# data[].attributes.body
Need to think through how will deal with that? Need criteria for selecting sample.

# data[].attributes.headline
Add example of UCL of COVID research done well which fed back to participants during the research, carried out entirely online

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Add example of UCL of COVID research done well which fed back to participants during the research, carried out entirely online

# data[].attributes.body
Kerry to add

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Researcher responsibilities to worthwhile research in online research - responsibilities to the community

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Researcher responsibilities to worthwhile research in online research - responsibilities to the community

# data[].attributes.body
Important to flag that questions asked are not wasting respondents' time, not asking questions for which you might not use data generated, thinking through potential impact of asking particular questions which might trigger support and ensuring that is in place.
(Imagine yourself as the participant or your friend)

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Encourage having open responses online which can be a valve to send back feedback on how the data collection has affected them ...which would help the researcher review their instrument, explain patterns of responses...

# data[].attributes.headline
Structure seems reasonable but more a case of pointing out where online is also a context or there are slightly different considerations in digital contexts

# data[].attributes.subject
Structure seems reasonable but more a case of pointing out where online is also a context or there are slightly different considerations in digital contexts

# data[].attributes.body
Group 1 felt were well organised and clear

# data[].attributes.headline
To frame the scope of digital research and emphasise how integrated it is in most research

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To frame the scope of digital research and emphasise how integrated it is in most research

# data[].attributes.headline
Public v private online spaces - different perspectives held by participants, researchers, ethics committees and society

# data[].attributes.subject
Public v private online spaces - different perspectives held by participants, researchers, ethics committees and society

# data[].attributes.body
Educational role for the guidelines that online activity is disputed as to whether it is public, ephemeral and who owns this data is important to consider and not to assume

# data[].attributes.headline
Do not accept views are not necessarily 'sincere' views online

# data[].attributes.subject
Do not accept views are not necessarily 'sincere' views online

# data[].attributes.body
Prompt to consider different reasons for expressing views and impact of community online on views progressing in ways which are trustworthy
Finding ways to triangulate views posed publicly eg. by follow up interviews or a survey

# data[].attributes.headline
Flag up exclusionary nature of digital research and to review whether this will meet the aims of the study

# data[].attributes.subject
Flag up exclusionary nature of digital research and to review whether this will meet the aims of the study

# data[].attributes.body
For example those who exclude use of technology in society, filter/censor access to media or have socio-economic access.
Need to review what population likely to have access to with particular tools or technologies.
Be mindful of who have excluded with method
Might need to find other ways to recruit participants - facilitating voice.
Important not to rely on Western assumptions of whose knowledge is heard.

# data[].attributes.headline
Recording of interviews that are conducted on the digital platforms that can record voice and video, and not just voice

# data[].attributes.subject
Recording of interviews that are conducted on the digital platforms that can record voice and video, and not just voice

# data[].attributes.body
- if videos are not part of what is researched, they should not be recorded, a separate voice recorder should be used

# data[].attributes.headline
Make sure that don't fall into trap of collecting data because it is easy to do technically without planning for this 

# data[].attributes.subject
Make sure that don't fall into trap of collecting data because it is easy to do technically without planning for this 

# data[].attributes.headline
Remember that research should be responsive to ethical issues as they arise and expect that likely to go back for further review

# data[].attributes.subject
Remember that research should be responsive to ethical issues as they arise and expect that likely to go back for further review

# data[].attributes.headline
Difference in depth of ethical approval across sector - what is BERA steer on this?

# data[].attributes.subject
Difference in depth of ethical approval across sector - what is BERA steer on this?

# data[].attributes.body
What level of detail needs to go through the committees for review - as far as the tools or just the design and ethical considerations?

# data[].attributes.headline
Examples of the Online UCL COVID-19 Study Participant Feedback.

# data[].attributes.subject
Examples of the Online UCL COVID-19 Study Participant Feedback.

# data[].attributes.headline
Una - reminder that there is much of the guidance that offers sound guidance and can be applied to digital contexts and the guidance will highlight some of the particular issues you should pay attention to - often face to face and digital research can raise similar issues

# data[].attributes.subject
Una - reminder that there is much of the guidance that offers sound guidance and can be applied to digital contexts and the guidance will highlight some of the particular issues you should pay attention to - often face to face and digital research can raise similar issues

# data[].attributes.body
Crowdsourced document that highlights some examples of doing research online/remotely:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1clGjGABB2h2qbduTgfqribHmog9B6P0NvMgVuiHZCl8/mobilebasic

# data[].attributes.headline
There has been a blurring of home-school boundaries for learners and there needs to be attention to the duty of care of a) being aware of the impacts of this on participants' lives and b) not being complicit in expecting 24-7 access 

# data[].attributes.subject
There has been a blurring of home-school boundaries for learners and there needs to be attention to the duty of care of a) being aware of the impacts of this on participants' lives and b) not being complicit in expecting 24-7 access 

# data[].attributes.body
This might affect how researchers convey purpose and expectations of participation. Avoid assumptions.

# data[].attributes.headline
Nicole - need to be clear that what might be considered digital research needs to be problematised.

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Nicole - need to be clear that what might be considered digital research needs to be problematised.

# data[].attributes.headline
Suggest renaming the Researchers' Wellbeing and Development to be Responsibility to Researchers (themselves)

# data[].attributes.subject
Suggest renaming the Researchers' Wellbeing and Development to be Responsibility to Researchers (themselves)

# data[].attributes.body
In this focus all of the following have digital components:
Ethical practice and integrity
Professional integrity and academic integrity
Wellbeing
Capacity building and support
How work with others

# data[].attributes.headline
Setting the scene - need to capture the change in digital research since 4th edition (from narrow - use of tools - to broad sense - researching in digital world) 

# data[].attributes.subject
Setting the scene - need to capture the change in digital research since 4th edition (from narrow - use of tools - to broad sense - researching in digital world) 

# data[].attributes.headline
Nicole - para 51 p25 sounds impractical abroad when cloud based tools and through internationally accessible virtual meeting tools where is this actually hosted and based

# data[].attributes.subject
Nicole - para 51 p25 sounds impractical abroad when cloud based tools and through internationally accessible virtual meeting tools where is this actually hosted and based

# data[].attributes.body
Which jurisdiction is the data held in?
Who is responsible for the issues raised by this legally?
Very specific and technical expertise needed
How does this affect choices of tools?

# data[].attributes.headline
For vulnerable groups should pay special attention beyond the attention paid when researching face to face when planning to recruit and interact with them online - for their safety and protection - this means making a strong case for the research being online at all in these situations - including there will be others involved and not being able to observe or be responsible for the care and confidentiality by others with those vulnerable others

# data[].attributes.subject
For vulnerable groups should pay special attention beyond the attention paid when researching face to face when planning to recruit and interact with them online - for their safety and protection - this means making a strong case for the research being online at all in these situations - including there will be others involved and not being able to observe or be responsible for the care and confidentiality by others with those vulnerable others

# data[].attributes.body
This is important to have confidence in the accuracy of what is offered to the research and what has been shared in the study

# data[].attributes.headline
Could be additional thinking about the international and well being case study to capture how the issues could be compounded if think about the digital dimension

# data[].attributes.subject
Could be additional thinking about the international and well being case study to capture how the issues could be compounded if think about the digital dimension

# data[].attributes.body
24-7 imposition of professor on ECR
data transfer
etc

# data[].attributes.headline
Will for more of these case studies to be generated 

# data[].attributes.subject
Will for more of these case studies to be generated 

# data[].attributes.body
Perhaps could have one on
* practitioner research in an increasingly digital world and the issues that have been raised
* choices on whether choose remote or in person data collection can be empowering and inclusive as well as problematic