Unveiling Digital Realms: A Systematic Review of Netnography Research in Library and Information Science
Keywords:
Netnography; Systematic review; Research design; Data collection; Data analysis: Research rigor; Research ethicsAbstract
Netnography is an innovative qualitative approach that holds promise for investigating online phenomena. It has been gaining increasing popularity across disciplines in recent years. This study aims to provide a nuanced understanding of how netngoraphy has been applied in library and information science (LIS). A systematic review was conducted on 38 netnography studies published in LIS journals indexed in three academic databases. The findings reveal a growing trend of netnography research and a wide range of research topics of interest in the included studies. Of particular significance is the comprehensive analysis and discussion of various methodological aspects, including research design, data collection, data analysis, research ethics, and research rigor, within the context of netnography in LIS. The examination of methodological issues in current netnography research provides valuable insights and serves as a foundation for identifying potential opportunities for improvement in future studies.
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