Open AccessResearching from a Distance: Using Live Web Conferencing to Mediate Data Collection
Author(s) -
David Glassmeyer,
Rebecca-Anne Dibbs
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of qualitative methods
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.414
H-Index - 29
ISSN - 1609-4069
DOI - 10.1177/160940691201100308
Subject(s) - videoconferencing , data collection , distance education , computer science , point (geometry) , ethical issues , work (physics) , software , qualitative property , qualitative research , multimedia , world wide web , psychology , engineering ethics , sociology , pedagogy , engineering , mechanical engineering , social science , geometry , mathematics , machine learning , programming language
Advances in technology have transformed the way people learn, work, and conduct research. An increase in online university courses offers geographically separated learners a chance to work together using live videoconferencing software. Researchers, however, have little guidance on how to collect qualitative interview data in these virtual environments. This article examines how researchers used live videoconferencing software to conduct interviews with participants separated geographically in a graduate education course. The authors point out the ethical and practical challenges that arose from using this method of data collection and offer advice on overcoming these obstacles. The authors conclude live videoconferencing software has the potential to be a viable data collection tool for researchers after considering the practical and ethical concerns associated with this method