e-Research Reflection

I think e-research is both a combination of using digital media to collect information, approach one's research question, and facilitate easier dynamic communication whether that be within a research team or between a researcher and his/her subject(s). It's a combination of studying the world with tools in our digital age but at the same time it involves reflecting upon one's own integration into this world. Being able to see and step back and forth across that boundary is to me key to e-research. Involving oneself purely in studying development of e-research tools for example in a removed position or simply passively living in a digital world is not enough to be called e-research. E-research is a balancing act in which "E" in this case means "engaging." The extreme ends are either completely detached or completely submerged in digital medium. There isn't a level of engagement between both sides of the boundary to see how e-research can probe into areas previously inaccessible or difficult to access and value this new information, but at the same time reflect on how the world of mass communication and internet can in turn shape researchers and their goals. Intervention becomes a two way force.

In terms of our group's research on second generation Moroccan immigrants and their choice in fashion I find it promising that we can use the internet to find background information and establish a setting before going in to conduct research. We will be using the internet in the way many e-researchers are looking at today - seeing what new ways of data collection and analysis can be performed with new tools. We will also be using e-tools to communicate with our research subjects and ensuring that we can set up a time and place to interact with them that would be most comfortable for them. This will help us to understand what it is like to be a "part-time participator" in the digitalized world. It's like having 3 eyes. One eye focused on our study of immigrants. Another eye focused on how the internet shapes our research question and process. And the third eye keeps an active tab on the times when our 'distanced researcher' position shift towards 'closeup participant' and at those moments whether there any special developments. This will help guide a better course of research in the future - forever fine tuning the boundaries between research and participant that is increasingly relevant with the rise of e-tool based research.