[Air-L] research ethics again - students and FB

[yohanan.ouaknine at ois.co.il]

Hi, 

This project is definitely problematic. I can't imagine an ethics committee
authorizing minors to violate ToS, even with the written consent of their
parents.
A solution could be building your own social network in a "lab environment"
with some open source software like
https://www.opensource-socialnetwork.org/community or
https://www.boonex.com/features .
The software is free, available on almost any cpanel hosting, you can
program your own simulations and you can even write the ToS.

Yohanan Ouaknine
PhD candidate @ Bar Ilan University, Israel


-----Original Message-----
From: Air-L [mailto:air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Charles M.
Ess
Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2018 4:44 PM
To: air-l <air-l at listserv.aoir.org>
Subject: [Air-L] research ethics again - students and FB

Dear AoIRists,

What are your thoughts regarding the following?

A research project involves a small number of students, legally minors - and
requires that they set up fake FB accounts for the sake of role-playing in
an educational context?
Of course, fake accounts are a clear violation of the FB ToS.

I know we've discussed the ethics of researchers doing this (with mixed
results, i.e., some for, some concerned).

But I'm curious what folk think / feel about this version of the problem.

Many thanks in advance,
- charles
--
Professor in Media Studies
Department of Media and Communication
University of Oslo
<http://www.hf.uio.no/imk/english/people/aca/charlees/index.html>

Postboks 1093
Blindern 0317
Oslo, Norway
c.m.ess at media.uio.no
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