Ethnographic Approaches to the Internet and Computer-Mediated Communication

• Published in: Journal of contemporary ethnography Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 52 - 84
• Main Authors: Garcia, Angela Cora, Standlee, Alecea I., Bechkoff, Jennifer, Yan Cui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.02.2009; Sage Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Anthropological methodology; Communication; Computer mediated communication; Ethical dilemmas; Ethnographic research; Ethnography; Ethnology; Field work; Information and communication technologies; Internet; Interviews; Participant Observation; Qualitative research; Research subjects; Social relations. Intercultural and interethnic relations. Collective identity; Social structure and social relations; Telecommunications; interviewing; Internet; computer-mediated communication; participant observation; ethnography; Ethnography; Methodology; Interaction; Computer; Participant observation; Communication; Interview
• ISSN: 0891-2416; 1552-5414
• DOI: 10.1177/0891241607310839

In this article we review ethnographic research on the Internet and computer-mediated communication. The technologically mediated environment prevents researchers from directly observing research participants and often makes the interaction anonymous. In addition, in the online environment direct interaction with participants is replaced by computer-screen data that are largely textual, but may include combinations of textual, visual, aural, and kinetic components. We show how the online environment requires adjustments in how ethnographers define the setting of their research, conduct participant observation and interviews, obtain access to settings and research subjects, and deal with the ethical dilemmas posed by the medium.