Proposals are invited for a collaborative one day masterclass, ‘Researching the Digital: Digital Methods for Qualitative Research‘ organised by University of Naples and CSDS, Delhi.

Date of the event: March 19th, 2024.

Time: 10 AM – 3.30 PM

Venue: CSDS, 29 Rajpur Road, Delhi

The pervasive influence of the Internet has fundamentally altered our daily routines, reshaping the ways in which we engage, labour, and exist. Beyond serving as mere tools, digital platforms now serve as dynamic arenas where human and non-human elements co-constitute social realities (Airoldi, 2021). As the boundaries between online and offline realms become increasingly indistinct, social researchers face a twofold challenge (Caliandro, 2017). Conceptually, social media platforms foster fluid, fleeting, and dispersed social exchanges, necessitating a reevaluation of traditional constructs such as field, identity, research participant, and ethical considerations. Methodologically, social media platforms establish structured environments that dictate the spatiotemporal dynamics of interactions through specific affordances, thereby imposing limitations on the investigative endeavours of social researchers.

Consequently, social research has progressed beyond the simple adaptation of conventional qualitative methodologies to online environments (Hine, 2015), moving towards a novel conceptualization of the Internet not merely as an object of examination but as a wellspring of methodologies for social inquiry. Central to this shift is the exploration of how the Internet can be utilised to study cultural transformations and societal conditions. The Digital Methods paradigm (Rogers, 2019) acknowledges the inherent logic embedded within the Internet itself, utilising it to collect, organise, and analyse data pertaining to social phenomena.

This masterclass aims to acquaint participants with Digital Methods in social research, particularly from a qualitative perspective, empowering social researchers to probe into the cultural significances attributed to digital actions, including shared systems of symbols, values, and opinions, as well as the collaborative construction of social formations such as online communities and publics. The session will explore various forms of qualitative digital inquiries, critically evaluate the use of metrics, examine research methodologies in the ever-evolving post-API landscape, and address the ephemeral nature of digital content.

This in-person masterclass at CSDS Delhi requires participants to familiarise themselves with previously supplied readings and participate in discussions.

To apply please click and fill up this google form by February 29, 2024. 

You need to submit a 250-word statement of interest, your updated CV and a 25-word bio to apply for the Masterclass.

We have limited slots for participation in the Masterclass. Selections will be made based on the quality of the applications. Applicants accepted for the masterclass will be informed by March 1, 2024 by email.