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The Use Of Virtual Ethnography In Distance Education Research

Year 2012, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, 212 - 225, 01.06.2012

Abstract

3D virtual worlds can and have been used as a meeting place for distance education courses. Virtual worlds allow for group learning of the kind enjoyed by students gathered in a virtual classroom, where they know they are in a communal space, they are aware of the social process of learning and are affected by the presence and behaviour of their fellow students and tutor.Traditional ethnography has been adjusted to virtual environments and much research on this issue has been carried out under the umbrella of virtual ethnography. The increase in diverse Internet applications can be pointed out as the cause of this inclination and increase. In this study, the authors explain the method of virtual ethnography in detail, inform about data gathering instruments such as participatory virtual observation, online and offline (face to face) interviews touch upon ethical questions related to field studies and highlight the elements that call for attention in the use of virtual ethnography in distance education studies.

References

  • Altuntek, S. (2009). Yerli’nin bakisi. Etnografya: kuram ve yontem. (Native’s view.
  • Ethnography:theory and method). Ankara: Utopya Yayinevi. Angrosino, M. (2007). Doing ethnographic and observational research. London: SAGE Publications.
  • Annetta, A. L., Folta, E., & Klesat, M. (2010). Use of virtual learning environments in distance education. V-Learning Distance Education in the 21st Century Through 3D
  • Virtual learning environments. Springer Science+Business Media. Arnould, E. J., & Wallendorf M. (1994). Market-orientated ethnography: interpretation building and marketing strategy formulation. Journal of Marketing Research, 31, 484 -503.
  • Binark, M. (Ekim, 2007). Sanal uzamda oyun kültürü ve dijital oyunlar. Turkiye’de
  • Internet Konferansı’nda sunulan bildiri, (Dijital games and game culture in cyber-space. Paper presented at the Internet Conference). Ankara. 142H tr.org.tr/inetconf11/bildiri/89.pdf (07.10.2009).
  • Boellstorf, T. (2008). Coming of age in Second Life. USA: Princeton University.
  • Bowler, G.M. (2010). Netnography: a method specifically designed to study cultures and communities online. The Qualitative Report, 15 (5), 1270-1275
  • Hhttp://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR15-5/kozinets.pdf (21.10.2011).
  • Browne, E. (2003). Conversations in cyberspace: a study of online learning. Open Learning, 18 (3), 245-249.
  • Castells, M. (1996). The rise of the network society. Oxford: Blackwell.
  • Göksel Canbek, N., Lominadze, T., Manjgaladze, M., & Demiray, U. (2010). Instructional
  • Systems Design (ISD): Theory and Practice in Second Life. IODL & ICEM, Eskisehir: Anadolu University. Charnet, C., & Veyrier, C. A. (2008). Virtual ethnography methodology for researching networked learning. Network Learning 5th & 6th May.
  • Correll, S. (1995). The ethnography of an electronic bar: the lesbian cafe. Journal of
  • Contemporary Ethnography, 24, 270-298. Emerson, R. M., Fretz, R. I., & Shaw, L. L. (2008). Butun yonleriyle alan calismasi: etnografik alan notlari yazimi. (Writing ethnographic fieldnotes).Ankara: Birlesik Yayinevi.
  • Frankel, M. S., & Siang, S. (1999). Ethical and legal aspects of human subjects research on the Internet. Washington DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science,
  • Hhttp:/AvAvw.aaas.org/spp/sfrl/projects/intres/reporf.pdf (21.10.2011).
  • Firat, M., & Yurdakul-Kabakci, I. (2011). Virtual ethnography research on Second Life virtual communities. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education-TOJDE, 12, 3/2.
  • Gajjala, R. (2000). Cyberethnography: reading each “other” online. 145H gajjala/define.html (11.07.2011).
  • Garcia, A.C., Standlee, A.I., Bechkoff, J., & Cui, Y. (2009). Ethnographic approaches to the Internet and computer-mediated communication. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, (1), 52-84.
  • Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., & Airasian, P. (2006). Educational research. Competencies for analysis and applications (8.ed.), USA:Pearson Prentice Hall.
  • Goulding, C. (2005). Grounded theory, ethnography and phenomenology a comparative analysis of three qualitative strategies for marketing research. European Journal of Marketing, 39 (3/4), 294-308.
  • High, A. C. ,& Solomon, D. H. (2010). Locating computer-mediated social support within online communication environments. In K. B. Wright ve L. M. Webb (Eds.), Computer- mediated communication in personal relationships. Hampton Press.
  • Hinchcliffe, V., & Gavin, H. (2009). Social and virtual networks: evaluating synchronous online interviewing using instant messenger. The Qualitative Report, 14 (2)
  • Hhttp://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR14-2/hinchcliffe.pdf147H(17.10.2010).
  • Hine, C. (2000). Virtual ethnography. London/Thousand Oaks/New Delhi: Sage
  • Jones, S. G. (1998). Cyber society: computer-mediated communication and community. California: Sage,
  • Jordan, B. (2010). Blurring boundaries: The “real” and the “virtual” in hybrid spaces introduction to the section on knowledge flow in online and offline spaces. Human Organization, 68 (2), 191-193.
  • Kendall, L. (2004). Participants and observers in online ethnography: five stories about identity. In M.D.Johns, L. S. Chen, ve G. J. Hall (Eds.), Online social research: methods, issues, and ethics, 125-140. New York: Peter Lang.
  • Kivits, J. (2005). Online interviewing and the research relationship. In C.Hine (Ed.),
  • Virtual methods , 35-50. New York: Berg. Kleinman, S. S. (2004). Researching ournet: a case study of a multiple methods approach. Online social research: Methods, issues, and ethics . In M. D. Johns, L. S. Chen,
  • & G. J. Hall (Eds.). 48-62. New York: Peter Lang. Kobak, K. (Subat, 2011). Yeni bir egitim ortami olarak Second Life’da ogrenci deneyimleri. (Student’s experiences in Second Life as a new educational environment).
  • Akademi Bilisim,. Inonu Universitesi, Malatya. Kozinets, R.V. (2002). The field behind the screen: using netnography for marketing research in online communities. Journal of Marketing Research, 39 (1), 61-73.
  • Krüger, S. (2006). Students’ Experiences of e-learning: a Virtual Ethnography into
  • Blended Online Learning. Networked Learning, 2006.
  • LeBesco, K. (2004). Managing visibility, intimacy, and focus online critical ethnography.
  • In M.D. Johns (Ed.), Online social research, Methods, Issues & Ethics 63-80. New York: Peter Lang Publishing. Paccagnella, L. (1997). Getting the seat of your pants dirty: strategies for ethnographic research on virtual communities. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 3 (1).
  • Hhttp://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol3/issue1/paccagnella.html (31.01.2010).
  • Punch, K. F. (2005). Sosyal arastirmalara giriş. Nitel ve nicel yaklasimlar (Introduction to social research : quantitative and qualitative approach). Ankara: Siyasal Kitapevi.
  • Rheingold. H. (1993). The virtual community: homesteading on the electronic frontier: reading. Massachusetts: Addison Wesley.
  • Robins, K. (1999). Imaj/gormenin kultur ve politikasi. ( Into the image). Istanbul: Ayrinti Yayinlari.
  • Soyseckin, I. (2007). Siberuzamda bir dünya: mudlarda toplumsal cinsiyetin sekillenisi.
  • Türkiye'de Internet Konferansı'nda sunulan bildiri. (The world in cyber-space: the emergence of gender in Muds. Paper presented at the Internet Conference). Net tr.org.tr/inetconf11/bildiri/89.pdf (10.08.2010).
  • Timisi, N. (2003). Yeni iletisim teknolojileri ve demokrasi. (New communication technologies and democracy) Ankara: Dost Kitabevi.
  • Tyagi, P.K. (2010). Wenbography: a new tool to conduct marketing research. Journal of
  • American Academy of Business, Cambridge, 15, (2), 262-266. Uzun, K. (2011). Second Life sanal yasam dünyasinda kendini sunum davranislarinin belirlenmesinde etnografik bir yaklasim. Yayimlanmamis doktora tezi. (Second Life: an ethnographic approach to the determination of self-presentation in the world of virtual life. Unpublished Phd thesis). Anadolu Universitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitusu.
  • Veale, K. J. (2002). Acting ethically in online ethnography a brief outline of issues and techniques. collections.lib.uwm.edu/cipr/image/46.pdf (20.12.2011).
  • Walstrom, M. K. (2004). “Seeing and Sensing” online interaction: an interpretive interactionist approach to USENET suppot group research. In M.D. Johns (Ed.) Online social research, Methods, Issues & Ethics 81-97. New York:Peter Lang Publishing.
  • Ward, K. J. (1999). Cyber-ethnography and the emergence of the virtually new community. Journal of Information Technology, 14, 95-105.
  • Whang, L. S.,& Chang. G. (2004). Lifestyles of virtual world residents, living in the on- line game, “Lineage”. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 7 (5), 592-600.
  • Whitty, M. (2004). Peering into online bedroom windows: considering the ethical implications of investigating Internet. In E. A. Buchanan (Ed.). Relationships and Sexuality Readings in Virtual Research Ethics: Issues and Controversies. Information
  • Science Publishing 149H http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/cipr/image/50.pdf (20.12.2011).
  • Williams, D. A. (2008). Virtual aesthetics and ethical communication: towards virtuous reality design. Unpublished Master Thesis. Clemson University.
  • Wilson, B. (2006). Ethnography, the internet, and youth culture: strategies for examining social resistance and “online-offline”. Relationships, 29 (1). 307-328.
  • Wittel, A. (2000). Ethnography on the move: from field to net to Internet. Forum:
  • Qualitative Social Research, 1 (1), 21. Wood, A.F.,& Smith, M. J. (2005). Online communication (2nd ed.) London: Lawrence
  • Erlbaum Associates Publishers Yıldırım, A., & Simsek, H. (2006). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel arastirma yöntemleri.
  • (Qualitative research methods in social sciences). Ankara: Seckin Yayinları. Hhttp://www.buzinkay.net/blog-en/2009/05/part-3-ethical-issues-of-virtual- ethnography151H(25.12.2011).
Year 2012, Volume: 13 Issue: 2, 212 - 225, 01.06.2012

Abstract

References

  • Altuntek, S. (2009). Yerli’nin bakisi. Etnografya: kuram ve yontem. (Native’s view.
  • Ethnography:theory and method). Ankara: Utopya Yayinevi. Angrosino, M. (2007). Doing ethnographic and observational research. London: SAGE Publications.
  • Annetta, A. L., Folta, E., & Klesat, M. (2010). Use of virtual learning environments in distance education. V-Learning Distance Education in the 21st Century Through 3D
  • Virtual learning environments. Springer Science+Business Media. Arnould, E. J., & Wallendorf M. (1994). Market-orientated ethnography: interpretation building and marketing strategy formulation. Journal of Marketing Research, 31, 484 -503.
  • Binark, M. (Ekim, 2007). Sanal uzamda oyun kültürü ve dijital oyunlar. Turkiye’de
  • Internet Konferansı’nda sunulan bildiri, (Dijital games and game culture in cyber-space. Paper presented at the Internet Conference). Ankara. 142H tr.org.tr/inetconf11/bildiri/89.pdf (07.10.2009).
  • Boellstorf, T. (2008). Coming of age in Second Life. USA: Princeton University.
  • Bowler, G.M. (2010). Netnography: a method specifically designed to study cultures and communities online. The Qualitative Report, 15 (5), 1270-1275
  • Hhttp://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR15-5/kozinets.pdf (21.10.2011).
  • Browne, E. (2003). Conversations in cyberspace: a study of online learning. Open Learning, 18 (3), 245-249.
  • Castells, M. (1996). The rise of the network society. Oxford: Blackwell.
  • Göksel Canbek, N., Lominadze, T., Manjgaladze, M., & Demiray, U. (2010). Instructional
  • Systems Design (ISD): Theory and Practice in Second Life. IODL & ICEM, Eskisehir: Anadolu University. Charnet, C., & Veyrier, C. A. (2008). Virtual ethnography methodology for researching networked learning. Network Learning 5th & 6th May.
  • Correll, S. (1995). The ethnography of an electronic bar: the lesbian cafe. Journal of
  • Contemporary Ethnography, 24, 270-298. Emerson, R. M., Fretz, R. I., & Shaw, L. L. (2008). Butun yonleriyle alan calismasi: etnografik alan notlari yazimi. (Writing ethnographic fieldnotes).Ankara: Birlesik Yayinevi.
  • Frankel, M. S., & Siang, S. (1999). Ethical and legal aspects of human subjects research on the Internet. Washington DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science,
  • Hhttp:/AvAvw.aaas.org/spp/sfrl/projects/intres/reporf.pdf (21.10.2011).
  • Firat, M., & Yurdakul-Kabakci, I. (2011). Virtual ethnography research on Second Life virtual communities. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education-TOJDE, 12, 3/2.
  • Gajjala, R. (2000). Cyberethnography: reading each “other” online. 145H gajjala/define.html (11.07.2011).
  • Garcia, A.C., Standlee, A.I., Bechkoff, J., & Cui, Y. (2009). Ethnographic approaches to the Internet and computer-mediated communication. Journal of Contemporary Ethnography, (1), 52-84.
  • Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., & Airasian, P. (2006). Educational research. Competencies for analysis and applications (8.ed.), USA:Pearson Prentice Hall.
  • Goulding, C. (2005). Grounded theory, ethnography and phenomenology a comparative analysis of three qualitative strategies for marketing research. European Journal of Marketing, 39 (3/4), 294-308.
  • High, A. C. ,& Solomon, D. H. (2010). Locating computer-mediated social support within online communication environments. In K. B. Wright ve L. M. Webb (Eds.), Computer- mediated communication in personal relationships. Hampton Press.
  • Hinchcliffe, V., & Gavin, H. (2009). Social and virtual networks: evaluating synchronous online interviewing using instant messenger. The Qualitative Report, 14 (2)
  • Hhttp://www.nova.edu/ssss/QR/QR14-2/hinchcliffe.pdf147H(17.10.2010).
  • Hine, C. (2000). Virtual ethnography. London/Thousand Oaks/New Delhi: Sage
  • Jones, S. G. (1998). Cyber society: computer-mediated communication and community. California: Sage,
  • Jordan, B. (2010). Blurring boundaries: The “real” and the “virtual” in hybrid spaces introduction to the section on knowledge flow in online and offline spaces. Human Organization, 68 (2), 191-193.
  • Kendall, L. (2004). Participants and observers in online ethnography: five stories about identity. In M.D.Johns, L. S. Chen, ve G. J. Hall (Eds.), Online social research: methods, issues, and ethics, 125-140. New York: Peter Lang.
  • Kivits, J. (2005). Online interviewing and the research relationship. In C.Hine (Ed.),
  • Virtual methods , 35-50. New York: Berg. Kleinman, S. S. (2004). Researching ournet: a case study of a multiple methods approach. Online social research: Methods, issues, and ethics . In M. D. Johns, L. S. Chen,
  • & G. J. Hall (Eds.). 48-62. New York: Peter Lang. Kobak, K. (Subat, 2011). Yeni bir egitim ortami olarak Second Life’da ogrenci deneyimleri. (Student’s experiences in Second Life as a new educational environment).
  • Akademi Bilisim,. Inonu Universitesi, Malatya. Kozinets, R.V. (2002). The field behind the screen: using netnography for marketing research in online communities. Journal of Marketing Research, 39 (1), 61-73.
  • Krüger, S. (2006). Students’ Experiences of e-learning: a Virtual Ethnography into
  • Blended Online Learning. Networked Learning, 2006.
  • LeBesco, K. (2004). Managing visibility, intimacy, and focus online critical ethnography.
  • In M.D. Johns (Ed.), Online social research, Methods, Issues & Ethics 63-80. New York: Peter Lang Publishing. Paccagnella, L. (1997). Getting the seat of your pants dirty: strategies for ethnographic research on virtual communities. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 3 (1).
  • Hhttp://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol3/issue1/paccagnella.html (31.01.2010).
  • Punch, K. F. (2005). Sosyal arastirmalara giriş. Nitel ve nicel yaklasimlar (Introduction to social research : quantitative and qualitative approach). Ankara: Siyasal Kitapevi.
  • Rheingold. H. (1993). The virtual community: homesteading on the electronic frontier: reading. Massachusetts: Addison Wesley.
  • Robins, K. (1999). Imaj/gormenin kultur ve politikasi. ( Into the image). Istanbul: Ayrinti Yayinlari.
  • Soyseckin, I. (2007). Siberuzamda bir dünya: mudlarda toplumsal cinsiyetin sekillenisi.
  • Türkiye'de Internet Konferansı'nda sunulan bildiri. (The world in cyber-space: the emergence of gender in Muds. Paper presented at the Internet Conference). Net tr.org.tr/inetconf11/bildiri/89.pdf (10.08.2010).
  • Timisi, N. (2003). Yeni iletisim teknolojileri ve demokrasi. (New communication technologies and democracy) Ankara: Dost Kitabevi.
  • Tyagi, P.K. (2010). Wenbography: a new tool to conduct marketing research. Journal of
  • American Academy of Business, Cambridge, 15, (2), 262-266. Uzun, K. (2011). Second Life sanal yasam dünyasinda kendini sunum davranislarinin belirlenmesinde etnografik bir yaklasim. Yayimlanmamis doktora tezi. (Second Life: an ethnographic approach to the determination of self-presentation in the world of virtual life. Unpublished Phd thesis). Anadolu Universitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitusu.
  • Veale, K. J. (2002). Acting ethically in online ethnography a brief outline of issues and techniques. collections.lib.uwm.edu/cipr/image/46.pdf (20.12.2011).
  • Walstrom, M. K. (2004). “Seeing and Sensing” online interaction: an interpretive interactionist approach to USENET suppot group research. In M.D. Johns (Ed.) Online social research, Methods, Issues & Ethics 81-97. New York:Peter Lang Publishing.
  • Ward, K. J. (1999). Cyber-ethnography and the emergence of the virtually new community. Journal of Information Technology, 14, 95-105.
  • Whang, L. S.,& Chang. G. (2004). Lifestyles of virtual world residents, living in the on- line game, “Lineage”. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 7 (5), 592-600.
  • Whitty, M. (2004). Peering into online bedroom windows: considering the ethical implications of investigating Internet. In E. A. Buchanan (Ed.). Relationships and Sexuality Readings in Virtual Research Ethics: Issues and Controversies. Information
  • Science Publishing 149H http://collections.lib.uwm.edu/cipr/image/50.pdf (20.12.2011).
  • Williams, D. A. (2008). Virtual aesthetics and ethical communication: towards virtuous reality design. Unpublished Master Thesis. Clemson University.
  • Wilson, B. (2006). Ethnography, the internet, and youth culture: strategies for examining social resistance and “online-offline”. Relationships, 29 (1). 307-328.
  • Wittel, A. (2000). Ethnography on the move: from field to net to Internet. Forum:
  • Qualitative Social Research, 1 (1), 21. Wood, A.F.,& Smith, M. J. (2005). Online communication (2nd ed.) London: Lawrence
  • Erlbaum Associates Publishers Yıldırım, A., & Simsek, H. (2006). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel arastirma yöntemleri.
  • (Qualitative research methods in social sciences). Ankara: Seckin Yayinları. Hhttp://www.buzinkay.net/blog-en/2009/05/part-3-ethical-issues-of-virtual- ethnography151H(25.12.2011).
There are 58 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Kadriye Uzun This is me

C. Hakan Aydın This is me

Publication Date June 1, 2012
Submission Date February 27, 2015
Published in Issue Year 2012 Volume: 13 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Uzun, K., & Aydın, C. H. (2012). The Use Of Virtual Ethnography In Distance Education Research. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 13(2), 212-225.