@article{MARIJA TOPUZOVSKA LATKOVIKJ_MIRJANA BOROTA POPOVSKA_2020, title={Online research about online research: advantages and disadvantages}, volume={6}, url={https://e-methodology.eu/index.php/e-methodology/article/view/1193}, DOI={10.15503/emet2019.44.56}, abstractNote={<p>Aim. Many people believe that the Internet may revolutionise several disciplines by<br>allowing easier and faster data collection, larger and geographically diverse samples, and<br>therefore collecting more representative data. However, others are skeptical of its usability<br>as well as its practical value. The paper’s aim is to highlight both positive and negative<br>outcomes in the online research.<br>Methods. The paper is based on the e-methodological approach by using exclusively<br>online data and online research methods: secondary data/articles with an open access<br>about the topic in the literature review section; and online forum as an online research<br>method for the data collection.<br>Results. As the most common advantages are recognised: quick access to information,<br>wide geographical scope, a larger sample size leading to greater statistical power, reduced<br>cost of conducting empirical research, support from online search engines and data bases,<br>open data sources, no need for face-to-face interaction, no paper wasted. The most common<br>disadvantages appointed by the respondents are: the need of evaluation for the accuracy<br>of the online sources, the need for Internet access, limited access or high costs of some data<br>bases, the contrast between fresh and redundant data available, irrelevant data, the need<br>and knowledge for precise formulation of the key phrases/questions, users’ multiple accounts,<br>AI involvement, low motivation of the targeted respondents, unreliable answers, etc.<br>Conclusions. It is interesting that the narratives confi rm the already highlighted positive<br>and negative outcomes in the online research process as they are already elaborated<br>in the theoretical frame. This research proves that is possible to use the online forums for<br>gathering data, especially in the kinds of networks, where the most important attribute of<br>the respondents is known solely by the membership itself. Because the internet is widespread,<br>easily available, low costing, it is important to open a wide discussion about overcoming<br>shortcomings on online research approach, and come to the useful and improved<br>solutions.</p>}, number={6}, journal={E-methodology}, author={MARIJA TOPUZOVSKA LATKOVIKJ and MIRJANA BOROTA POPOVSKA}, year={2020}, month={May}, pages={44–56} }