Punziano G., Delli Paoli A. Navigating digital frontiers: methodological potentials and ethical challenges in social research. Editorial

Authors: Gabriella Punziano, Angela Delli Paoli

Abstract

This special issue, “Navigating digital frontiers: methodological and ethical challenges in social research”, will contributes to the debate about the implications of the complex interactions between digital technology, social research and social life.
The different papers collected in this issue look both at epistemic concerns related to the nature of digital data and normative concerns related to the consequences of digital social research. On the epistemic side, it critically analyses the changing nature of the data collection process, the place and role of technological objects, affordances and applications, the influence and entity of digital biases by at the same time looking at the methodological principles which are not easily dismissed by the new availability of data and the strengthened potentials of methods and techniques. On the normative side, social research in the digital context also raises several ethical dilemmas deriving both from institutional deregulation and innovative challenges.

Keywords: Digital social research, ethics, AI, bias

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13131/unipi/8e8a-g759

Notes on contributors

GABRIELLA PUNZIANO Associate Professor of Sociology and Methodology, Department of Social Sciences, University of Naples Federico II. Her research interests include: new analytical frontiers and challenges introduced by new data, mixed and integrated and digital perspectives; the analysis of public, institutional and political communication through innovative content analysis techniques; risk communication analysis on digital platforms.
Email: gabriella.punziano@unina.it
ANGELA DELLI PAOLI is a Researcher (tenure-track) at the Department of Humanities, Philosophy and Education (University of Salerno). She coordinates the International Lab for Innovative Social Research (ILIS). Her research interests include: qualitative and quantitative social research methods, Digital Social Research and digital ethnography, migration, non-normative identities.
Email: adellipaoli@unisa.it