Linking survey and Twitter data: informed consent, disclosure, security and archiving

Sloan, Luke ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9458-9332, Jessop, Curtis, Al Baghal, Tarek and Williams, Matthew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2566-6063 2020. Linking survey and Twitter data: informed consent, disclosure, security and archiving. Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics 15 (1-2) , pp. 63-76. 10.1177/1556264619853447

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Abstract

Linked survey and Twitter data present an unprecedented opportunity for social scientific analysis, but the ethical implications for such work are complex—requiring a deeper understanding of the nature and composition of Twitter data to fully appreciate the risks of disclosure and harm to participants. In this article, we draw on our experience of three recent linked data studies, briefly discussing the background research on data linkage and the complications around ensuring informed consent. Particular attention is paid to the vast array of data available from Twitter and in what manner it might be disclosive. In light of this, the issues of maintaining security, minimizing risk, archiving, and reuse are applied to linked Twitter and survey data. In conclusion, we reflect on how our ability to collect and work with Twitter data has outpaced our technical understandings of how the data are constituted and observe that understanding one’s data is an essential prerequisite for ensuring best ethical practice.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Publisher:	University of California Press
ISSN:	1556-2646
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	10 May 2019
Date of Acceptance:	6 May 2019
Last Modified:	03 May 2023 14:48
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/122354

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