Blurring the boundaries: One Year OnApril 16th 2013Royal Statistical Society

Welcome

Kandy WoodfieldNetwork Leader, NatCen Social Research

Blurring the boundaries? Innovation

CollaborationInspiration

Fresh thinking Network of methodological

innovation Funded by NCRM May 2012-May 2013

Aims of the networkInnovation

CollaborationInspiration

Fresh thinking 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

1,194 YouTube views

76% employe

d34%

students

75% HE sector

25% other

65% in UK35% worldwide

58% female42% male 451

NSMNSS members

20 disciplinary

fields

How it worked?Innovation

CollaborationInspiration

Fresh thinking

Network activities across a range of platforms:

Home page: http://www.natcen.ac.uk/nsmnss/

Methodspace: http://www.methodspace.com/group/nsmnss/forum

Twitter: @NSMNSS, #NSMNSS Blogs: http://nsmnss.blogspot.co.uk/ You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/NSMNSS

Face to face events

Over 3,500 minutes of

video watched

3 0nline seminars

2 conferences

4 knowledge exchange seminars

7 themed twitter chats

56 blog posts

12 months…

1,194 YouTube views

1,194 video

views on You Tube

23,234 blog page views

One year on – what have we learnt? 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

One year on – 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

One year on – 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

One year on – the future?

Lots to continue to discuss We want your help to keep the

network alive and to shape its future

Survey: https://www.research.net/s/NSMNSSFuture

Thank youIf you want further information or would like to contact the network:

nsmnss@natcen.ac.uk