Social Media Research

Take a deep dive into social media research, including ethical issues to consider during the research lifecycle.

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About this Course

With billions of users worldwide, social media is integral to modern life, and its significance continues to grow. For researchers, social media has proven useful in providing tools and venues for research. However, they often face complicated ethical quandaries when using social media for research.

This course provides an overview of social media research, including the current social media landscape, the different uses of social media in research, the ethical issues associated with social media research, and the current regulations and other forms of research oversight.

Language Availability: English

Suggested Audiences: IRB Members, Postdocs, Research Personnel, Researchers, Students

Organizational Subscription Price: $675 per year/per site for government and non-profit organizations; $750 per year/per site for for-profit organizations
Independent Learner Price: $99 per person

Demo Instructions

Course Content

Overview of Social Media Research

Since it began in the early 2000s, the social media phenomenon has changed the way people live, communicate, socialize, and interact. People have called it everything from revolutionary to destructive, capable of influencing elections and mindsets, affecting body image and psychological well-being.

This module explores the background and current landscape of social media and its use in research. It reviews common ethical challenges and discusses extant regulatory guidance and best practices for researchers and Institutional Review Boards reviewing social media-based research.

Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 21437 (English)
Author(s): Nicholas Proferes, PhD - Arizona State University; Elizabeth Buchanan, PhD, CIP - University of Rhode Island

Social Media Research – Survey Methods

Social media platforms, such as Facebook, TikTok, NextDoor, and Reddit, have become major venues for recruiting survey participants. However, internet-based survey research can bring a host of challenges. This module reviews ethically informed planning of survey research using social media platforms, examines how to conduct ethical survey research using social media, and explores the ethical considerations of presenting and sharing findings from survey research using social media. It highlights relevant principles related to the Belmont Report’s core ethical values: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.

Recommended Use: Elective
ID (Language): 21438 (English)
Author(s): Nicholas Proferes, PhD - Arizona State University

Social Media Research – Ethnography

The Belmont Report highlights three core ethical values: respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. Being attuned to these values can help researchers using ethnographic methods address ethical considerations as part of their research study planning, data gathering, data analysis, and research dissemination. This module reviews how ethics intersects with planning ethnographic research using social media, examines the ethical conduct of ethnographic research using social media, and explores the ethical dimensions of presenting and sharing findings from ethnographic research using social media.

Recommended Use: Elective
ID (Language): 21439 (English)
Author(s): Nicholas Proferes, PhD - Arizona State University

FAQs

Who should take the Social Media Research course?

The Social Media Research course is for researchers, research personnel, postdocs, students, and Institutional Review Board members. It would be meaningful to anyone interested in social media research.

How long does it take to complete the Social Media Research course?

The Social Media Research course consists of three modules. Each module is designed to take about 20 to 25 minutes, so the entire course may take approximately one hour or more.

What are the standard recommendations for learner groups?

This course is designed such that all learners should complete the Overview of Social Media Research module. Learners should then complete the survey methods and/or ethnography modules based on their needs.

Is this course eligible for continuing medical education credits?

This course does not currently have CE/CME credits available.

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