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

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 article, 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 are 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.

Coping by metaphors: the versatile function of metaphors in blogs about living with advanced cancer

“…36. Hayley Stainton and Elitza Iordanova (2017), ”An Ethical Perspective for Researchers Using Travel Blog Analysis as a Method of Data Collection,” Methodological Innovations 10, no. 3: 1–2, doi: 10.1177/2059799117748136.…”

Ethical Considerations in Data Collection and Analysis: A Review: Investigating Ethical Practices and Challenges in Modern Data Collection and Analysis

“…The study highlights the uncertainty and ethical considerations that arise when minors are involved in digital technology research, suggesting co-producing ethical practice between researchers and minors as a mechanism to address these concerns. Stainton and Iordanova (2017) reflect on the ethics of utilizing travel blog content as a method of data collection. They argue that due to the diverse and continuously evolving nature of travel blogs, a blanket ethical approach is insufficient.…”

My trip in my words: Subjectivities, time(s) and mobilities in slow travel blogs

“…Different authors assume distinct positions. For example, Stainton and Iordanova (2017) consider the blanket approach to be insufficient specifically for the study of travel blogs. Differently, (White 2002: 252) claims that the ‘constructed aspects of users’ proclaimed self-representations’ are much closer to the result of a creative process and presentation of a cultural production and therefore should be treated as text-based analysis.…”

“…For that reason, we have decided not to anonymize the blogs and to address it as text-based analysis. Nevertheless, we considered the methodological contribution of Stainton and Iordanova (2017) because their work is specifically about travel blogs analysis, and we followed their guidelines to identify possible ethical issues in our research.…”