Preamble

 

We have created this code of ethics to guide our behavior in the use of Facebook groups for research.  As we are researching a different subculture, this code of ethics will help us work towards maintain our duty to informants and their beliefs and experiences.  As researchers, we understand the importance of the following:

 

  1. Before fieldwork begins, we should search through our own Facebook profiles for any content that could make any members uncomfortable or bias their interactions around us.

 

  1. Before fieldwork begins, we should find informants through pre-existing Facebook groups based around our subculture of interest, which helps assure that individuals are comfortable using Facebook and interacting within the subculture. We should introduce ourselves and make our presence known in the groups, and obtain the permission of moderators or admins of the group to introduce ourselves. In order to ground ourselves in the subculture, we should ask advice from moderators or admins on behavior and practices in the communities, and we should learn from the groups’ rules.  We should also work to aid the communities as a sign of goodwill.  It is necessary to build a strong rapport before asking anything of the group members.

 

  1. We should privately message each individual we attempt to recruit over Facebook. In this interaction, we should discuss IRB approval, the project’s procedures, and the benefits and risks of participation. We should minimize technical language, and ask for any questions or concerns.  We should also discuss time expectations, and ask how the study can best fit in the person’s daily life.  If an individual does accept the initial offer, we should then send them an electronic informed consent form.  We should then adhere a small quiz – questions on the main points – in order to gauge the person’s understanding of the form.  If the person passes all questions, then we should accept their electronic signature.  If the individual does not pass a question, then we should explain the answer to them, and then accept their electronic signature.

 

  1. During fieldwork, in order to preserve anonymity, the project’s Facebook group should be private and secret. We should allow only admins – ourselves – to invite people to the group, so that only those who have signed informed consent forms may enter. Although the names of every member, ourselves included, are public to the group, the secrecy of the group itself should protect the members’ identities, especially since the group will be hidden from the subculture’s Facebook groups.  We should expect that members of other Facebook groups might be able to identify informants, or that informants may tell others about their participation in the group.  Therefore, we should de-identify life experiences and possibly create composite individuals, especially if the group size is small.

 

  1. The timing of activities and the length of the study should be informed by informants’ own Facebook behavior, while still maintaining engagement. We should gather this information over time; the project should be flexible as to best accommodate informants.

 

  1. Activities and discussion questions should be written as to effectively portray informants’ beliefs and experiences, and make them comfortable in the group. We should not require respondents to respond to any activities or discussions, though we should encourage them to do so. At the beginning of the study, activities should aim to socialize the participants and make them comfortable with the new space and with each other.  We should make ourselves present in these discussions in order to understand the behaviors and rituals of the members.

 

  1. Our portrayals of the individuals and interactions happening should be as accurate as possible, staying grounded in the discussions and activities occurring in the Facebook group. It is essential for us to understand shared beliefs without naturalizing or essentializing the subculture. To check our research, we should share our results and conclusions with the group, and take seriously their reactions.

 

  1. We should aim to repay our informants for their contributions to the project. Firstly, the group itself should benefit the members. We should encourage the socialization of informants and encourage the use of the group to connect informants.  Secondly, we should serve as support systems in any way possible, and should work on any informal opportunities to assist individuals or the broader subculture’s community.  Given the lack of physical interactions between members, we should check in on informants’ wellbeing, as we will not have clues from in-person interactions.  A payment at the end of the study is possible, but it is neither necessary nor especially beneficial given the broad length of the study. If a payment is to be given, we should not inform informants of it during recruitment so that people do not join for the monetary reward.

 

  1. When the project is near completion, we should make our gratitude and appreciation to the informants clear. The Facebook group should continue after the project is completed, and we should send updates on our own research, other research regarding the subculture, and possibly personal updates. We should make an effort to stay connected with each of the individuals.