A timely, well-structured textbook that will be of use to students, teachers and researchers. It provides a comprehensive overview of the range of online qualitative research methods. and offers readers step by step guidance and careful consideration of the key ethical, practical and quality issues involved in conducting qualitative research online. From online interviews to using social media data, this book is a welcome addition to our methods toolkit
-- Kandy Woodfield
Salmons' thorough and readable book brings a complex technical skill-set within the reach of any competent student or researcher. The companion website is loaded with useful resources. Together they will be invaluable for anyone considering or undertaking qualitative online research.
-- Dr Helen Kara
Salmons' qualitative e-research framework is a highly anticipated extension of her expertise on online interviewing. She guides the reader across the entire research process - from selecting an overarching methodology to reporting the findings - while continually revisiting the importance of engaging in researcher reflexivity and ethical practices in online contexts. Salmons' careful distinction between extant, elicited and enacted types of data and the utility of each is especially needed during this time of often vague talk about the place of big data in research.
-- Trena M. Paulus
The book is written for students and for faculty. Each chapter has a summary, a referral to the companion website, and discussion questions and exercises for the reader. For lecturers/instructors, the companion website provides a sample syllabus, assignments, worksheets, and class activities. The author highlights understanding what qualitative research is and how to use online communications for data collection. The importance of ethical research is emphasized, as online research is often conducted through personal computers, and it is up to the researcher to continually assess if high ethical standards are met through each stage of the research process.
The book's strength is the author's ability to relate the information to the reader in a concise and understandable way. Concepts are provided in layman's terms. Second, the book is a good resource for educators, as it provides resources for teaching students about conducting qualitative research online. -- Donna Busarow, Walden University