Digital methods in a post-API environment

Perriam, Jessamy; Birkbak, Andreas and Freeman, Andy. 2020. Digital methods in a post-API environment. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 23(3), pp. 277-290. ISSN 1364-5579 [Article]

[img]
Preview
Text
Digital methods in a post API enivronment Perriam_Birkbak_Freeman 2019postprint (1).pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial.

Download (692kB) | Preview

Abstract or Description

Qualitative and mixed methods digital social research often relies on gathering and storing social media data through the use of APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). In past years this has been relatively simple, with academic developers and researchers using APIs to access data and produce visualisations and analysis of social networks and issues. In recent years, API access has become increasingly restricted and regulated by corporations at the helm of social media networks. Facebook (the corporation) has restricted academic research access to Facebook (the social media platform) along with Instagram (a Facebook-owned social media platform). Instead, they have allowed access to sources where monetisation can easily occur, in particular, marketers and advertisers. This leaves academic researchers of digital social life in a difficult situation where API related research has been curtailed. In this paper we describe some rationales and methodologies for using APIs in social research. We then introduce some of the major events in academic API use that have led to the prohibitive situation researchers now find themselves in. Finally, we discuss the methodological and ethical issues this produces for researchers and, suggest some possible steps forward for API related research.

Item Type:

Article

Identification Number (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1080/13645579.2019.1682840

Keywords:

Digital methods, APIs, web scraping, ethics, Facebook, Netvizz, Twitter

Departments, Centres and Research Units:

Computing

Dates:

DateEvent
2020Published
25 October 2019Published Online
17 October 2019Accepted

Item ID:

27419

Date Deposited:

07 Nov 2019 12:28

Last Modified:

14 Jun 2021 09:24

Peer Reviewed:

Yes, this version has been peer-reviewed.

URI:

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/27419

View statistics for this item...

Edit Record Edit Record (login required)