[Air-l] Methods of blog research: Behind the scenes - possible panel(s) for AoIR 2007

[Lois Ann Scheidt]

Methods of blog research: Behind the scenes

As the number of studies on blogs has increased, so have the questions 
and issues surrounding how one does research on these multi-faceted 
online sites. Experienced researchers and novices grapple with multiple 
issues as they adapt, modify and develop various research methods. How 
does one identify blogs for one?s study? What sampling procedures work 
best? What software is to be used in blog research? What are the 
benefits and weaknesses of using particular methods?

We call for abstracts and papers that address these issues for a panel 
or series of panels, at the AoIR Conference 2007 in Vancouver, British 
Columbia, Canada. In particular we are interested in presentations that 
look at methods ? qualitative or quantitative - and the difficulties 
researchers encounter as they do or have done research on blogs. Our 
focus is not on results; rather we are looking for colleagues 
interested in sharing knowledge and discussing challenges of the ?nuts 
and bolts? of blog research.

The list of methods to consider includes but is not limited to:
-- Content Analysis
-- Ethnography
-- Social Network Analysis
-- Interviews and surveys
-- Narratives and biographies
-- Discourse analysis

Interested parties should submit 250-500 word abstract for each paper 
or presentation by December 15, 2006 to the organizers:

Lois Ann Scheidt and Inna Kouper
Doctoral Students
School of Library and Information Science
Indiana University
lscheidt at indiana dot edu
inkouper at indiana dot edu