Qualitative Online Data Collection: Towards a Framework of Ethical Decision-Making

• Published in: Qualitative report Vol. 27; no. 12; pp. 2686 - 2700
• Main Author: Kristiansen, Søren
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Fort Lauderdale Nova Southeastern University, Inc 01.12.2022; The Qualitative Report
• Subjects: Consent; Coronaviruses; Data collection; Data entry; Decision making; Ethical aspects; Ethics; Ethnography; Focus groups; Human subjects; Individualized Instruction; Informed Consent; Internet; Methods; Qualitative research; Research ethics; Research methodology; Researchers; Technology application; Virtual communities; United States
• ISSN: 2160-3715; 1052-0147; 2160-3715
• DOI: 10.46743/2160-3715/2022.5048

This paper offers an ethical framework to guide decision-making when using online methods to collect qualitative data. With the introduction of the internet, a range of new ways to collect data have emerged, each of which involves sets of ethical issues and concerns. From a review of these concerns, the paper presents a framework that may facilitate decision-making when faced with ethical challenges. The framework is based on reviews of three internet-mediated qualitative methods used to collect qualitative data on human life and behavior: online interviews, online focus groups, and online observation. Based on his review, a conceptual framework is developed. The framework conceptualizes ethical decision making as (a) situational, (b) casuistic, (c) reflexive, and (d) phronetic.