An ethical perspective for researcher using travel blog analysis as a method of data collection

Stainton, Hayley and Iordanova, Elitza (2017) An ethical perspective for researcher using travel blog analysis as a method of data collection. Methodological Innovations, 10 (3). ISSN 2059 7991

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Abstract

Social researchers have been required to consider the potential ethical implications of their research since research began. Recently however, the importance placed upon research ethics has undoubtedly increased; evident through the formation of additional ethic committees, the production of various ethical guidelines and the increased number of publications addressing the concept. However, with the emergence of new and diverse research approaches it can be suggested that there should also be the development of new and diverse ethical approaches. In this paper we consider the ethical stance taken when undertaking travel blog analysis and argue that due to the diverse and continuously evolving nature of travel blogs, the blanket approach that is so frequently adopted by researchers is not sufficient. We reflect on the ethics of utilising travel blog content as a method of data collection by considering the importance of whether the blogger is viewed as a human subject, whether data collected from blogs is public or private, the need for informed consent and whether the blogger should be viewed as an author or a respondent. We then proceed to contribute to the body of existing ethical research by proposing a set of broad ethical principles that can be applied for those undertaking travel blog analysis.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Travel, tourism, blog, netnography, ethics
Depositing User:	RED Unit Admin
Date Deposited:	27 Nov 2017 11:50
Last Modified:	04 Jan 2018 11:09
URI:	https://bnu.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/17224

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