1. Challenges and Opportunities of Using Social Media for Social Science ResearchWednesday 9th July9.15am-12.45pmConvenor: Kandy Woodfield, Director of LearningNatCen Social Research

2. Our panel Blurring the boundaries: a network of researchers using social media – Kelsey Beninger, NatCen Social Research Social media and prediction - Dr Luke Sloan & Dr Matthew Williams, Cardiff University, COSMOS team Using social media to curate a collaborative social research hub - Donna Peach, Huddersfield University Tea and coffee break Myths & mythologies - Jamie Bartlett & Carl Miller, Demos From Flickr to Snapchat– Dr Farida Vis, Sheffield University

3. Blurring the boundaries? • Innovation • Collaboration • Inspiration • Fresh thinking • New social media, new social science? • Network of methodological innovation • Funded by NCRM, May 2012-May 2013 • 500+ members worldwide • Open membership, all welcome • Interdisciplinary • Peer network, member led

4. Innovation Collaboration Inspiration Fresh thinking • Aims of the network • On & off line community of practice • Forge links between academics, practitioners & disciplines • Catalyse debate • Address challenges social media present for social science research • Share approaches, tools & experiences of using social media Identify good practice • Co-created content & guidance to be shared with the wider community

5. Innovation Collaboration Inspiration Fresh thinking • What do we do Network activities across a range of platforms: • Twitter: @NSMNSS, #NSMNSS – tweets, twitter chats, Q&As • Blogs:http://nsmnss.blogspot.co.uk/ - we welcome contributors – contact us @NSMNSS or via the blog • You Tube:http://www.youtube.com/user/NSMNSS - presentations from events • Face to face events – knowledge exchange seminars, conferences, webinars

6. Blurring the boundaries: findings from a network of researchers using social media Kelsey BeningerNatCen Social Research 6

7. What have we learnt? I • Social media being used in most soc sci disciplines • Research innovation & ground breaking use of technologies • Great examples of multi-disciplinary research using social media • Silos & divides do still exist and are counter-productive to moving social media methodology(ies) forward • No single methodology for social media research– many approaches, many tools, different epistemological stances

8. What have we learnt? II Persisting uncertainty about whether we are ‘getting it right’ • Ethical dilemmas - lack of consistent, relevant guidance • What are the political, ethical, legal issues? • Do we understand the digital world well enough to make these choices? • Lack of research with users of social media platforms or engagement with platform providers

9. What have we learnt? III • ‘Getting it right’ is also about methodological quality: • What is a robust sample from Twitter or Facebook? • Need to develop methodological courage and confidence to defend the method • Scepticism and cynicism persist • Digital literacy & methodological skills gaps • Lack of experience and understanding in institutions, ethics boards and funders

10. Context Social Media provides new opportunities Recent studies: NatCen:www.natcen.ac.uk/our-research/research/ research-using-social-media-users-views/ NSMNSS:nsmnss.blogspot.co.uk 10

11. Challenges • Recruitment & data collection Researcher identity & wellbeing Analysis & presentation of data

12. Recruitment & Data Collection • Recruitment • Participant’s views: scepticism, acceptance and ambiguity. • Digital identities • Digital risks for participants • Exclusion of particular groups • Informed consent • Morally and legally required • Promote trust • Verify user views haven’t changed • To publish photos or imagery Data Collection • Ownership and expectations

13. Researcher identity & wellbeing • Your digital identity • Impact on research outcomes • Managing communication w participants • Credibility and transparency

14. Analysis and presentation of data Analysis • Third Party Software • How much is too much? • Validity and representativeness • People behave differently online and offline • Exaggerated views • Impulsive comments • Inaccurate profiles Presentation • Traceability of participant data • Short & long term implications for participants

15. Recommendations • Collecting/generating data: • Consider implications of legally permitted vs. intellectual property • Acknowledge limits of accessing different user types • Reporting results: • Test traceability of data, and paraphrase or remove handle • Reasonably seek consent for use of verbatim/sensitive content • Is SM the right methodology for your research Q? • Don’t make assumptions • Review case studies & existing research • Recruitment: • Transparency in materials • Explicit about privacy terms of the platform used

16. Thank you!Questions?kelsey.beninger@natcen.ac.uknsmnss@natcen.ac.uk