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  • Book
  • Open Access
  • © 2022

Research Methodologies and Ethical Challenges in Digital Migration Studies

Caring For (Big) Data?

Palgrave Macmillan

Editors:

  1. Marie Sandberg

    1. Centre for Advanced Migration Studies, the SAXO Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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  2. Luca Rossi

    1. Digital Design, IT University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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  3. Vasilis Galis

    1. Center for Digital Welfare, IT University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

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  4. Martin Bak Jørgensen

    1. Department of Culture and Learning, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

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  • This book is open access, meaning you have free and unlimited access

  • Explores methodological and ethical challenges in digital migration research

  • Bridges critical migration and border research, anthropology, feminist theory and more

  • Calls for new modes of caring for (big) data when researching migrants’ digital practices

Part of the book series: Approaches to Social Inequality and Difference (ATSIAD)

Sections

Softcover Book USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Hardcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
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Table of contents (11 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xvi
    PDF

  3. Digital and Qualitative Data Dynamics

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 23-23
      PDF

    2. Migrant Digital Space: Building an Incomplete Map to Navigate Public Online Migration

      • Vasiliki Makrygianni, Ahmad Kamal, Luca Rossi, Vasilis Galis
      Pages 25-51Open Access

  4. Ethical Challenges in Digital Migration Research and Beyond

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 139-139
      PDF

  5. Comments

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 219-219
      PDF

    2. On Data and Care in Migration Contexts

      • Koen Leurs
      Pages 221-234Open Access

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 259-262
    PDF
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About this book

This Open Access book investigates the methodological and ethical dilemmas involved when working with digital technologies and large-scale datasets in relation to ethnographic studies of digital migration practices and trajectories. Digital technologies reshape not only every phase of the migration process itself (by providing new ways to access, to share and preserve relevant information) but also the activities of other actors, from solidarity networks to border control agencies. In doing so, digital technologies create a whole new set of ethical and methodological challenges for migration studies: from data access to data interpretation, privacy protection, and research ethics more generally. 

Of specific concern are the aspects of digital migration researchers accessing digital platforms used by migrants, who are subject to precarious and insecure life circumstances, lack recognised papers and are in danger of being rejected and deported. Thus, the authors call for new modes of caring for (big) data when researching migrants’ digital practices in the configuration of migration and borders. Besides taking proper care of research participants’ privacy, autonomy, and security, this also spans carefully establishing analytically sustainable environments for the respective data sets. In doing so, the book argues that it is essential to carefully reflect on researchers’ own positioning as being part of the challenge they seek to address.

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Keywords

  • Migration
  • Digital technologies
  • Research ethics
  • Social media
  • Ethnography
  • Privacy
  • Data Sets
  • Big Data
  • Digital Humanities
  • Open Access
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Reviews

“In a world where migrants and data are often treated with disrespect, this book offers a much-needed antidote to academic, political, technological and methodological carelessness. A must read for anyone who cares.” (Huub Dijstelbloem, Professor of Philosophy of Science, Technology and Politics and Scientific Director of the Institute for Advanced Study of the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
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Editors and Affiliations

  • Centre for Advanced Migration Studies, the SAXO Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Marie Sandberg

  • Digital Design, IT University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Luca Rossi

  • Center for Digital Welfare, IT University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Vasilis Galis

  • Department of Culture and Learning, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    Martin Bak Jørgensen

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About the editors

Marie Sandberg is Associate Professor in Ethnology and Director of the Centre for Advanced Migration Studies (AMIS), The SAXO Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Luca Rossi is Associate Professor, at the IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Vasilis Galis is Associate Professor in the Technologies in Practice (TIP) group at the IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Martin Bak Jørgensen is Associate Professor at DEMOS at the Department for Culture and Learning, Aalborg University, Denmark. 
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Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Research Methodologies and Ethical Challenges in Digital Migration Studies

  • Book Subtitle: Caring For (Big) Data?

  • Editors: Marie Sandberg, Luca Rossi, Vasilis Galis, Martin Bak Jørgensen

  • Series Title: Approaches to Social Inequality and Difference

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81226-3

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Cham

  • eBook Packages: Social Sciences, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2022

  • License: CC BY

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-030-81225-6Published: 24 November 2021

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-030-81228-7Published: 24 November 2021

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-030-81226-3Published: 23 November 2021

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XVI, 262

  • Number of Illustrations: 7 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Sociology of Migration, Social Media, Digital and New Media, Digital Humanities, Big Data

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Softcover Book USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Hardcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Learn about institutional subscriptions