Preamble

In all research encounters, it is vital to keep in mind that the ethnographer’s primary goal should be maintaining the wellbeing of interlocutors. This mission extends into virtual environments as well, including in the realm of online interviews. In order to ensure that both the ethnographer and the participant benefit from this experience, the following ethical guidelines should be kept in mind:

  1. Before coming to the interview, the ethnographer should create a set of open-ended questions that invite the participant to share as much as they see fit. The researcher should not create leading questions in an attempt to fish for certain responses, but rather write questions that encourage the interviewee to respond freely and openly.
  2. Transparency and honesty are two of the most important facets of conducting an online interview. Prior to formally beginning the interview, the researcher should give a thorough explanation of the interview’s purpose in a manner that is accessible to the interviewee. Encourage the participant to ask questions so that they fully understand the course of the interview and feel comfortable providing the information they will be asked for. The ethnographer should explain the specific use for this information and ask for consent to use what the interviewee shares with them in future endeavors. It is important to disclose that the interview will be recorded, but also assure that the recording will only be used by the researcher as a reminder of their conversation and will not be shared with anyone else. This will further help to ensure that the interviewee feels as comfortable as possible. 
  3. Respect that interaction in an online environment feels different from community to community and from person to person, much like interaction in real life. Be conscious of how you approach conversation, and, above all, ensure that the interviewee feels comfortable and listened to wholeheartedly. If something is unclear, the researcher should ask for clarification so that misunderstandings are greatly reduced.
  4. Throughout the course of the interview, the researcher should remember that the interviewee is the primary focus. The interviewee should feel comfortable speaking whatever comes to their mind, and the researcher should be mindful of how the interviewee feels throughout the conversation. If the interviewee expresses discomfort or is unwilling to answer a question, the researcher should not push for an answer, as this goes against protecting the interviewee’s wellbeing.
  5. Understand that, in an online space, the right to privacy and anonymity should still be afforded to interlocutors. Even though the lines between private and public can often be blurred in online worlds, it is important to preserve the wellbeing of the participant. This means taking extra steps to ensure that the interviewee remains anonymous if they so choose, and that the dissemination of the final product does not impose on the interviewee’s personal and private life in any way. Participants may be providing extremely personal, sensitive, or even sacred information, and it is the responsibility of the researcher to keep this in mind during the interview as well as after.
  6. At the end of the interview, the researcher should be sure to remind the interviewee of the purpose of their conversation, as well as what the information obtained will be used for. This allows the interviewee to once again feel assured and informed of what their words will be going towards. 
  7. After completing the interview, the ethnographer should continue to ensure that the privacy of the interviewee is protected in write-ups and further research endeavors by paying adequate attention to how the interviewee’s information is integrated into conclusions.