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18 - Online Research Methods

from Part III - Data Collection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2023

By
Kevin B. Wright
Edited by
Austin Lee Nichols  and
John Edlund
Austin Lee Nichols
Affiliation:
Central European University, Vienna
John Edlund
Affiliation:
Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
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Summary

This chapter examines four prominent online research methods – online surveys, online experiments, online content analysis, and qualitative approaches – and a number of issues/best practices related to them that have been identified by scholars across a number of disciplines. In addition, several platforms for conducting online research, including online survey and experimental design platforms, online content capture programs, and related quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools, are identified in the chapter. Various advantages (e.g., time saving, cost, etc.) and disadvantages (e.g., sampling issues, validity and privacy issues, ethical issues) of each method are then discussed along with best practices for using them when conducting online research.

Keywords

Online SurveysOnline Experimental DesignsOnline Content AnalysisOnline Interviews and Focus GroupsOnline Data CaptureOnline Data Analysis
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
Volume 1: Building a Program of Research
 , pp. 378 - 399
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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  • Online Research Methods
  • Edited by Austin Lee Nichols, Central European University, Vienna, John Edlund, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
  • Book: The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Online publication: 25 May 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009010054.019
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  • Online Research Methods
  • Edited by Austin Lee Nichols, Central European University, Vienna, John Edlund, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
  • Book: The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Online publication: 25 May 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009010054.019
Available formats
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Online Research Methods
  • Edited by Austin Lee Nichols, Central European University, Vienna, John Edlund, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
  • Book: The Cambridge Handbook of Research Methods and Statistics for the Social and Behavioral Sciences
  • Online publication: 25 May 2023
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009010054.019
Available formats
×