Freedom of Information and Social Science Research Design

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19918367
AutoresKeith Spiller (0000-0002-5796-8165), Andrew Whiting (0000-0002-6821-5919)
EditoresKevin Walby (0000-0002-5107-2309), Alex Luscombe (0000-0002-3052-5401)
Año2019
Fecha de publicación2019-11-25
Open AccessNo
TipoBOOK
RevistaFreedom of Information and Social Science Research Design (SOURCE_BOOK)
EditorialRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.4324/9780429437717
OpenAlexW2971976065
Open LibraryOL40083817M
ISBN9780429437717
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas12

This chapter considers Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) as a viable tool for academic research. To date, journalist, campaigners or concerned consumers have been to the forefront in using FOIs to gain information on issues as diverse as politician’s expenses, the cost of policing a royal event or the levels of food hygiene in restaurants. Yet this line of enquiry appears to be infrequently used by academic researchers. The chapter concentrates on the UK and will offer 5 areas for consideration. Firstly, we consider the value of FOIs as a research tool. Secondly, we reflect upon some of the limitations to using FOIs in research. Thirdly, we locate the FOIA within a broader process of modernising digital information and highlight some of the challenges that can present for researchers via this trend. Fourthly, we review effective use of FOI in research. Finally, we offer some observations from our own nascent research project that is using FOIs as a key methodological approach. The chapter concludes by stressing the usefulness of the FOIA for researchers to produce democratising and politically impactful research. The chapter’s aim is to highlight the practicalities of applying this method of enquiry and to further its contribution to academic research

Data science · Engineering ethics · Freedom of information · Information science · Library science · Management science · Political science · Social science · Sociology · Computer Science · Engineering · Ethics and Social Impacts of AI · Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection · Law · Privacy, Security, and Data Protection · General · Research · Social sciences