Adapting vignettes for internet-based research: eliciting realistic responses to the digital milieu
McInroy, L. B., & Beer, O. W. (2022). Adapting vignettes for internet-based research: Eliciting realistic responses to the digital milieu. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 25(3), 335-347. doi: 10.1080/13645579.2021.1901440
Highlights
Background
Vignettes have previously been used by researchers and are useful in balancing manipulation of variables and accuracy in participant responses
Digital vignettes have become a popular methodological format in part for being more accessible to hard-to-reach others in research participation
Digital vignettes have not been largely employed to examine sensitive topics such as online microaggressions within the LGBTQIA+ community
The current information on ethical considerations and implications for using digital vignettes is limited
Study Description
An online mixed-methods survey was used to collect data on LGBTQIA+ youths’ experiences with online microaggressions, technology use, and psychological wellbeing (n = 1804; aged 14-24)
Five social media posts were taken from online microaggressions was used to measure its impact on the mental, emotional, and physiological wellbeing of participants
Considerations were given to the validity and ethical concerns for the risk of using vignettes in stigmatized, digitally engaged populations through feedback by stakeholders
Key Findings
The sample reported encountering content similar to the digital vignettes used, implying that the validity of the vignettes was consistent with real-world content viewed by LGBTQIA+ youths in the digital milieu
A balance between capturing the realism on online microaggressions in vignettes and protecting participants from real trauma was reached through reinforced trigger warnings and consent
Digital vignettes and other internet-based methods are more geographically accessible and convenient for youths given that they are not technologically overcomplicated and comply with accessibility needs
Conclusion
When translating the vignettes methods for internet-based data collection, researchers should be wary of the adaptability of such methods when applying them to marginalized populations
· The benefits and concerns to using digital vignettes in the context of stigmatized youth ought to be considered by researchers
