Customer Reviews

Internet Inquiry: Conversations About Method

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This is an excellent book to engage with some of the key issues and questions in qualitative research about the Internet. The way it is constructed, as a dialogue, engages the reflection of the reader with the issues that are discussed. I will definitely recommend it as a basic book for those interested in qualitative inquiry of the Internet and new technologies, not only in communication studies but in any discipline.

I've taught many qualitative research methods classes for graduate students in mass communication/communication studies, and this volume does an excellent job of introducing some of the most common questions that come up as beginning researchers (or established researchers considering undertaking qualitative research projects) grapple with as they conceptualize as well as conduct their studies. The book covers important topics such as how to think through the ethics involved in doing online research, and what constitutes 'public' and 'private' online. Likewise, chapters take up other valuable discussions such as the role of the researcher's emotions when doing fieldwork; and how to create a project that is comprehensive yet doesn't overwhelm the researcher.

The volume is also innovative in its approach: each chapter begins with a question, such as "How can researchers make sense of the issues involved in collecting and interpreting online and offline data?" To answer the question, one contributor writes a longer response, which is followed by two additional responses by other writers. This method keeps the focus on grappling with methodological choices, and makes the book feel more like a conversation between researchers, rather than a dry 'how to' manual. It also encourages the writers to talk about their own past practices and illustrate their points through examples from past work, which lends further weight to their suggestions and conclusions.

Overall, Internet Inquiry: Conversations about Method is a call to Internet researchers to think deeply and with care about our methods for doing research online. Both Markham and Baym are superbly qualified to put together this volume--they have not only led the field of internet studies through their own research on life online, but they have also been pioneers in actively seeking to improve the methods by which internet research is done. Bringing in key researchers in the field, Baym and Markham do a top notch job of assembling one of the best methods books about Internet Studies yet created.