What are the threats and potentials of big data for qualitative research?
Journal article
Mills, Kathy A.. (2018). What are the threats and potentials of big data for qualitative research? Qualitative Research. 18(6), pp. 591-603. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794117743465
Authors | Mills, Kathy A. |
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Abstract | Amid the big claims of big data, analytics, datification, and data mining, this article answers central questions for qualitative research. In the debates about the enormity and ubiquity of data in the digital world, qualitative research endeavors are seemingly threatened. But is big data necessarily better? Can big data answer the fundamental questions that qualitative researchers ask? This article interrogates the key issues for qualitative researchers in the big data era, positioning big data in its historical context. This article offers a critique of assumptions about access to big data, and uncovers the dark side of big data and privacy in a risk society. The potentials of big data for qualitative research are examined, providing recommendations to bring together complementary research endeavors that map large scale social patterns using big data with qualitative questions about participants’ subjective perceptions, rich expression of feelings, and reasons for human action. |
Keywords | analytics; big data; data; data access; data mining; privacy; qualitative research; research ethics; social media; surveillance |
Year | 2018 |
Journal | Qualitative Research |
Journal citation | 18 (6), pp. 591-603 |
Publisher | SAGE Publications |
ISSN | 1741-3109 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1177/1468794117743465 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85058139994 |
Open access | Published as green open access |
Research or scholarly | Research |
Page range | 591-603 |
Funder | Australian Research Council (ARC) |
Research Group | Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education (ILSTE) |
Author's accepted manuscript | License All rights reserved File Access Level Open |
Publisher's version | License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 30 Nov 2017 |
ARC Funded Research | This output has been funded, wholly or partially, under the Australian Research Council Act 2001 |
Grant ID | ARC/LP150100030 |
ARC/DE140100047 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/885x4/what-are-the-threats-and-potentials-of-big-data-for-qualitative-research
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Author's accepted manuscript
AM_Mills_2018_What_are_the_threats_and_potentials.pdf | |
License: All rights reserved | |
File access level: Open |
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