[Air-L] avatar research ethics

[jcu]

you wrote,

"That said, anything said on a forum that does not require special 
permission or passwords to access is generally fair game in my books."

PhD or not, how does this differ from a paparazzi agenda?
As long as there are living human beings creating text or speech, in 
whatever for(u)m, isn't it, at the very least, common decency to simply
ask for permission? So my question is, fair game for what? Sounds like 
research has become target practice to me.

j

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rhiannon Bury" <rcbury at rogers.com>
To: <air-l at listserv.aoir.org>
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008 9:01 PM
Subject: Re: [Air-L] avatar research ethics


> Very interesting discussion! I see no difference in studying an AV in SL 
> or a participant in a discussion forum.  To me the issue in getting 
> approval should be  not whether it's a visual or textual identity but the 
> site and purpose of the study. Yes, I know we've had long debates on what 
> counts as "public" in cyberspace and people's perceptions that they are 
> having "private" conversations. That's why LJ is good because it is set up 
> so members can select
> comments to put "behind the cut" only accessible to those on their
> friend list. That said, anything said on a forum that does not require 
> special permission or passwords to access is generally fair game in my 
> books. I'd probably make an exception for more personal types of support 
> groups where sensitive information, say about sexual abuse, is shared. As 
> for the purpose and methodology, I agree completely with Jeremy. If one 
> has any direct contact or interaction with participants, then such 
> research involves human subjects and must be cleared.
>
> Rhiannon
>
> Rhiannon Bury, Ph.D.
> Assistant Professor, Women's Studies
> Athabasca University, Canada
> rbury at athabascau.ca
>
>
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