The Potential of Digital Ethnography for Sensitive Topics and Hidden Population

Authors

  • Angela Delli Paoli University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13136/isr.v12i7S.579

Keywords:

digital ethnography, netnography, digital sociology

Abstract

In this paper we investigate the potential of digital research when the digital is both the topic and the instrument of research. The digital is an interesting topic of social research when technology intersect society, that is in those fields where technology give new rise to some social issues directly impacting mainstream social problems (such as identity and sexuality). In the case of sexuality, for example, the digital offers discursive spaces to legitimate sexual minorities identities, especially when their sexual models do not conform to social norms. For these topics digital ethnography may be a distinctive method to study social change deriving from the digital. It seems to be particularly appropriate to study phenomena born digital and to investigate generative and productive (and not just reflective) digital identities and cultures avoiding the contrived situation of an interviewer asking people direct questions and allowing to document the performative use of language. In other words, it gives access to sensitive topics and hidden population which would otherwise be less visible. [...]

Author Biography

Angela Delli Paoli, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy

Department of Humanities, Philosophy and Education

Downloads

Published

11.07.2022

How to Cite

Delli Paoli, A. (2022). The Potential of Digital Ethnography for Sensitive Topics and Hidden Population. Italian Sociological Review, 12(7S), 729. https://doi.org/10.13136/isr.v12i7S.579

Issue

Section

Articles