Using digital ethnography to research embodied information practices on social media

Introduction. This paper discusses the use of digital ethnography to research the embodied information practices of ultrarunners. The paper considers the challenges of digital ethnography and explores how embodied and immersive methods could bring the body into digital ethnography. Method. Digit...

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Main Author: Laura Williams
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Borås 2025-05-01
Series:Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://publicera.kb.se/ir/article/view/51892
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author Laura Williams
author_facet Laura Williams
author_sort Laura Williams
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. This paper discusses the use of digital ethnography to research the embodied information practices of ultrarunners. The paper considers the challenges of digital ethnography and explores how embodied and immersive methods could bring the body into digital ethnography. Method. Digital ethnographic methods have been used as part of ongoing research exploring how ultrarunners use the affordances of social media to share embodied information. Participant observation and interviews have been the main methods of data collection. Discussion. Embodied information can present challenges for the researcher as it is information which is difficult to access beyond the moment of practice. Reflection on use of digital ethnography has highlighted the importance of methods which bring the body into research. Conclusions. Turning to sensory, embodied and immersive methods can support deeper understanding of embodied information practices. The paper highlights the value of ongoing reflection on methodological issues to address the challenges of researching embodied information.
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series Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
spelling doaj-art-8485be511cfa412baf1daa84495e706e2025-08-20T03:07:14ZengUniversity of BoråsInformation Research: An International Electronic Journal1368-16132025-05-0130CoLIS10.47989/ir30CoLIS51892Using digital ethnography to research embodied information practices on social mediaLaura Williams0Information School, University of Sheffield Introduction. This paper discusses the use of digital ethnography to research the embodied information practices of ultrarunners. The paper considers the challenges of digital ethnography and explores how embodied and immersive methods could bring the body into digital ethnography. Method. Digital ethnographic methods have been used as part of ongoing research exploring how ultrarunners use the affordances of social media to share embodied information. Participant observation and interviews have been the main methods of data collection. Discussion. Embodied information can present challenges for the researcher as it is information which is difficult to access beyond the moment of practice. Reflection on use of digital ethnography has highlighted the importance of methods which bring the body into research. Conclusions. Turning to sensory, embodied and immersive methods can support deeper understanding of embodied information practices. The paper highlights the value of ongoing reflection on methodological issues to address the challenges of researching embodied information. https://publicera.kb.se/ir/article/view/51892Information behaviour and practicesEthnographyEmbodied informationInformation practicesSocial media
spellingShingle Laura Williams
Using digital ethnography to research embodied information practices on social media
Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
Information behaviour and practices
Ethnography
Embodied information
Information practices
Social media
title Using digital ethnography to research embodied information practices on social media
title_full Using digital ethnography to research embodied information practices on social media
title_fullStr Using digital ethnography to research embodied information practices on social media
title_full_unstemmed Using digital ethnography to research embodied information practices on social media
title_short Using digital ethnography to research embodied information practices on social media
title_sort using digital ethnography to research embodied information practices on social media
topic Information behaviour and practices
Ethnography
Embodied information
Information practices
Social media
url https://publicera.kb.se/ir/article/view/51892
work_keys_str_mv AT laurawilliams usingdigitalethnographytoresearchembodiedinformationpracticesonsocialmedia