Online research methods are ways in which researchers can collect data via the internet. They are also referred to as Internet research

Internet research

Internet research is the practice of using the Internet, especially the World Wide Web, for research. The internet is widely used and readily accessible to hundreds of millions of people in many parts of the world. It can provide practically instant information on most topics, and has a profound...

, Internet science or iScience. Many of these online research methods are related to existing research methodologies but re-invent and re-imagine them in the light of new technologies and conditions associated with the internet. The field is relatively new and evolving. With the growth of social medias a new level of complexity and opportunity has been created. Inclusion of social media research can provide unique insights into consumer and societal segments and gaining an "emotional" measure of a population on issues of interest.

Some specific types of method include:

• Online ethnography
• Online focus groups
• Online interviews
• Online questionnaires
  Online questionnaires
  Computer-assisted web interviewing is a Internet surveying technique in which the interviewer follows a script provided in a website. The questionnaires are made in a program for creating web interviews. The program allows for the questionnaire to contain pictures, audio and video clips, links to...
  
  
• Web-based experiments
  Web-based experiments
  A Web-based experiment or "Internet-based experiment" is an experiment that is conducted over the Internet. Psychology and Linguistics are probably the disciplines that have used these experiments most widely, although a range of other disciplines use web-based experiments. Within Psychology most...
  
  
• Online clinical trials - or see below
• Technology used for online research methods

Online clinical trials

Clinical trials are at the heart of current evidence based medical care. They are, however, traditionally expensive and difficult to undertake. Using internet resources can, in some cases, reduce the economic burden. Paul et al., in The Journal of Medical Internet Research, describe the background and methodologies of online clinical trials and list examples.

External links

• Exploring online research methods
• Association of Online Internet Researchers Ethical Report
• iScience Server
• List of online research studies
• The International Journal of Internet Science - a journal that publishes articles on online research methods
• http://www.mediabadger.com"digital media research for public policy"