USING GUIDED TOURS AS AN ONLINE DATA COLLECTION STRATEGY: A RESEARCH NOTE

Abstract

This research note discusses the benefits of guided tours as an online data collection strategy. These benefits include an opportunity to follow-up on questions and seek detailed responses from participants, clarify certain misconceptions about the participants and/or
phenomena under study, mitigate bias in data, get an updated record of participants’ online practices, and create a relationship of trust and rapport with the participants. Guided tours can also be useful for participants as it gives them a chance to use the online space regularly, and also provides them with an opportunity to reflect on their online practices frequently. Keeping in view
the benefits of guided tours, qualitative researchers are encouraged to employ this data collection strategy in their online research for securing in-depth and additional information regarding participants’ use of a particular online site. Further, this short paper recommends that online qualitative researchers utilize guided tours to seek additional and detailed information about their participants’ practices and/or experiences in any online space.