A guide to understanding digital research from both a conceptual and practical perspective, helping the reader to make sense of the issues, challenges and opportunities of social science research in the digital age.
The book will help the reader to understand how the digital context impacts on social science research and is divided into three main sections:
A Justification & Reconceptualization of Digital Research: The authors explore how far the digital environment is transforming social science research.
Accessing Digital Data: An outline of the characteristics of digital data, temporality issues in digital research and different data sources.
Moving Forward with Digital Research: Examining the practicalities of how to conduct digital research, with examples and suggestions to strengthen the implementation of digital research.
Suitable for Masters and Doctoral students undertaking digital or online research methods courses, as well as anyone doing a research project or dissertation with an online component.
Section 1: A Justification & Reconceptualization of Digital Research
Chapter 1: Digital Research as a Phenomenon and a Method
Chapter 2: The Changing Research Landscape
Section 2: Accessing Digital Data
Chapter 3: Characteristics of Digital Data
Chapter 4: Temporality in Digital Research
Chapter 5: Data Sources for Digital Research
Chapter 6: Research Processes and the Human/Technology Interface
Section 3: Moving Forward with Digital Research
Chapter 7: The Practicalities of Doing Digital Research
Chapter 8: Conclusion, The Bigger Picture