A–Z of Digital Research Methods

A–Z of Digital Research Methods This accessible, alphabetical guide provides concise insights into a variety of digital research methods, incorporating introductory knowledge with practical application and further research implications. A–Z of Digital Research Methods provides a pathway through the often-confusing digital research landscape, while also addressing theoretical, ethical and legal issues that may accompany each methodology. Dawson outlines 60 chapters on a wide range of qualitative and quantitative digital research methods, including textual, numerical, geographical and audio-visual methods. This book includes reflection questions, useful resources and key texts to encourage readers to fully engage with the methods and build a competent understanding of the benefits, disadvantages and appropriate usages of each method. A–Z of Digital Research Methods is the perfect introduction for any student or researcher interested in digital research methods for social and computer sciences. Catherine Dawson is a freelance researcher and writer specialising in the use and teaching of research methods. She has taught research methods courses at universities in the UK, completed a variety of research projects using qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches, and written extensively on research methods and techniques. A–Z of Digital Research Methods Catherine Dawson First edition published 2020 by Routledge 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN and by Routledge 52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business © 2020 Catherine Dawson The right of Catherine Dawson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Dawson, Catherine, author. Title: A-Z of digital research methods / Catherine Dawson. Other titles: A to Z of digital research methods Description: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, 2019. | Includes bibliographical references and index. Identifiers: LCCN 2019009327 (print) | LCCN 2019016155 (ebook) | ISBN 9781351044677 (eBook) | ISBN 9781138486799 (hardback) | ISBN 9781138486805 (pbk.) Subjects: LCSH: Research–Data processing. | Research–Methodology. | Computer simulation. Classification: LCC Q180.55.E4 (ebook) | LCC Q180.55.E4 D39 2019 (print) | DDC 001.4/20285–dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019009327 ISBN: 978-1-138-48679-9 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-138-48680-5 (pbk) ISBN: 978-1-351-04467-7 (ebk) Typeset in Melior and Bliss by Swales & Willis, Exeter, Devon, UK Author Biography Dr Catherine Dawson has worked as a researcher, tutor and trainer for almost 30 years in universities, colleges and the private sector in the UK. She has designed and taught research methods courses for undergraduate and postgraduate students and has developed and delivered bespoke research methods training sessions to employees at all levels in the private sector. She has also carried out a variety of research projects using qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods approaches and has published a number of papers and books on research methods and techniques. Catherine has drawn on this experience to develop and produce the A–Z of Digital Research Methods, which provides an accessible, comprehensive and user-friendly guide for anyone interested in finding out more about digital research methods. v Contents Introduction 1 1 Agent-based modelling and simulation 4 2 Audio analysis 10 3 Big data analytics 17 4 Business analytics 24 5 Cluster analysis 31 6 Coding and retrieval 38 7 Computer modelling and simulation 45 8 Computer-assisted interviewing 52 9 Computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software 59 10 Data analytics 66 11 Data collection and conversion 73 12 Data mining 79 vii Contents 13 Data visualisation 86 14 Digital ethnography 93 15 Digital storytelling 100 16 Digital visual methods 107 17 Educational data mining 114 18 Ethno-mining 120 19 Eye-tracking research 126 20 Game analytics 133 21 Geospatial analysis 140 22 HR analytics 147 23 Information retrieval 154 24 Learning analytics 161 25 Link analysis 169 26 Live audience response 175 27 Location awareness and location tracking 181 28 Log file analysis 188 29 Machine learning 194 30 Mobile diaries 200 31 Mobile ethnography 206 viii Contents 32 Mobile methods 213 33 Mobile phone interviews 220 34 Mobile phone surveys 227 35 Online analytical processing 234 36 Online collaboration tools 241 37 Online ethnography 248 38 Online experiments 255 39 Online focus groups 262 40 Online interviews 268 41 Online observation 274 42 Online panel research 281 43 Online questionnaires 288 44 Online research communities 295 45 Predictive modelling 301 46 Qualitative comparative analysis 307 47 Research gamification 314 48 Researching digital objects 321 49 Sensor-based methods 328 50 Smartphone app-based research 335 ix Contents 51 Smartphone questionnaires 342 52 Social media analytics 349 53 Social network analysis 356 54 Spatial analysis and modelling 362 55 Video analysis 368 56 Virtual world analysis 376 57 Wearables-based research 383 58 Web and mobile analytics 390 59 Webometrics 398 60 Zoning and zone mapping 404 Index 410 x Introduction The A–Z of Digital Research Methods provides an introduction to a wide variety of digital research methods including numerical, geographical, textual, audio and visual methods. The term ‘digital’ is used as an umbrella term to describe research methods that use computer-based products and solutions (or electronic technologies) for data collection and analysis, including online, mobile, location and sensor-based technologies. ‘Research methods’ are the tools and techniques used to collect and analyse data. Methodology (the guideline system or frame- work used to solve a problem) is not included except in cases where the boundary between method and methodology are blurred or indistinct (digital and online ethnography, for example). The book includes new methods and techniques that have developed together with relevant digital technology (big data analytics, machine learning and online analytical processing, for example), and traditional methods that have been modified, changed or aided by digital technology, even though the method in itself may have a long pre-digital history (data visualisation, interviews, questionnaires and social network analysis, for example). Both qualitative and quantitative approaches are covered, including naturalistic approaches, tightly-designed experiments and surveys and the collection of various forms of non-reactive data. The book is aimed at researchers, educators and students working primarily within the social sciences, education and humanities, but will also be of interest to those within a number of other disciplines and fields of study including management and business, health and nursing, information sciences, human geography and urban planning. It will be useful for early-career researchers planning and moving forward with their thesis or research project; experienced researchers updating their knowledge about digital research methods and approaches; early-career research methods tutors designing a new 1 Introduction research methods course/module and adding to reading lists; existing research methods tutors updating their knowledge about digital methods; and undergraduate and postgraduate students thinking about and choosing appropriate research methods for their project, dissertation or thesis. The simple, alphabetically-ordered structure of the book enables the reader to read the book from start to finish (useful for students who know very little about digital research methods, perhaps who are trying to choose methods for their dissertation or thesis), or to dip in and out of the book to find out about a specific method (useful for tutors who need to add new content to their course and reading lists, for example). The alphabetical structure also encourages the reader to approach the book without being restricted or constrained by the qualitative and quantitative divide, thus encouraging them to consider mixed or hybrid methods or think about alternative (or perhaps less obvious or ‘non-traditional’) approaches that will help them to answer their research question. Each entry in the book contains four simple categories for ease of reference: overview, questions for reflection, useful resources and key texts. The overview provides concise information about the method, including information, where relevant, about history, development, epistemological, theoretical and methodo- logical insight and practical information about how, when and why the method is used. The ‘questions for reflection’ section asks pertinent questions that help the reader to think more deeply about the method. These are divided into three categories: 1) epistemology, theoretical

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