A Guide to Conducting Online Research is designed to support students, academics and research practitioners in using technology to conduct their research.

The book begins by looking at what questions to ask and how to prepare to conduct online research, then concentrates on particular technologies and how to employ them effectively, before concluding with a discussion of the peculiarities of conducting research in the online environment. Practical advice is offered on common issues and problems, such as:

• How to decide which application is best for your research purposes?

• What can be done to guarantee the anonymity of research participants?

• What kinds of challenges do firewalls present and how can they be mitigated?

A Guide to Conducting Online Research provides a wealth of advice, explanation, instruction, self-help tips and examples, making this a helpful resource for anyone using technology in conducting their research.

Zusammenfassung
A Guide to Conducting Online Research is designed to support students, academics and research practitioners in using technology to conduct their research. The book begins by looking at what questions to ask and how to prepare to conduct online research, then concentrates on particular technologies and how to employ them effectively, before concluding with a discussion of the peculiarities of conducting research in the online environment. Practical advice is offered on common issues and problems, such as:- How to decide which application is best for your research purposes?- What can be done to guarantee the anonymity of research participants? - What kinds of challenges do firewalls present and how can they be mitigated? A Guide to Conducting Online Research provides a wealth of advice, explanation, instruction, self-help tips and examples, making this a helpful resource for anyone using technology in conducting their research.

Inhalt

Introduction
Designing an Online Study
Research Standards and Ethical Considerations
Using Email for Data Collection
Researching Using Instant Messaging and Chat
Survey Research on the Internet
The World of Web 2.0: Blogs, Wikis and Websites
Accessing and Using Web-based Data
Analyzing the Data
Emerging Research Opportunities
Presenting Your Results
Some Additional Challenges for Online Researchers