Metodološki problemi u sprovođenju kvantitativnih istraživanja posredstvom interneta u sociologiji

Abstract

Research conducted through the Internet is becoming increasingly important in contemporary society which is marked by accelerated scientific, technological and information development. The methodology of Internet research is the subject of consideration of numerous scientific papers, but it is necessary to examine the extent to which the recommendations of methodologists are applied in practice. This study analyzes the methodology of quantitative research conducted through the Internet, in leading world and Serbian sociological journals. We start from a theoretical framework that points to the distinction between the virtual, online sphere and offline society, or the view of the Internet as a cultural context and artifact, but emphasizing the connection and intertwining of these spheres, in a new, digital context. Relevant theories for conceptualizing the digital context of research and key concepts of digital and virtual society, cyberspace, digital and virtual culture, virtual communities, computermediated communications and social networks are presented. In accordance with the stated theoretical framework, we define the elements that should be included in research through the Internet: digital contextualization, positioning of researchers in relation to the connection between online and offline spheres and the reason for choosing Internet technology, ie advantages and disadvantages. In addition to the elements above, the satisfaction of the criteria of traditional methods for the application of quantitative techniques and research, as well as specific criteria for the application of digital methods, which appear in the methodological literature, was examined. 146 papers published from 2005 to the time of data collection (beginning of 2019) were analyzed. In particular, the differences in relation to the applied technique and the field of research were examined and different trends in the analyzed world and Serbian sociological journals were pointed out. As leading journals of high quality, the papers mostly meet the criteria of traditional research, but the application of recommendations specified in the methodological literature has been rarely reported. The criteria we emphasize in this paper, concerning the digital contextualization of the subject and the rationale for the choice of online research are also low, and represented in less than a third of the sample. Although the methodological literature predicts the revolutionary influence of the Internet on the methodology of the social sciences, the general conclusion is that research in sociology is currently in the phase of adapting traditional methods to the digital sphere. However, we consider this finding satisfactory, given the complexity of the application of research in the new digital and virtual context. Further development of research of this type should be accompanied by a synthesis of methodological recommendations and practical problems and ways to solve them that occur in practice. The aim of this paper is precisely one type of this synthesis of theoretical recommendations and the practical state of this type of research in sociology. Finally, practical recommendations are given for conducting research through the Internet in sociology and related disciplines.