Question

Kozinets (2002) lists several characteristics of netnography vis-à-vis to traditional

ethnography. One such charactistic is both unique to netnography and

exceptionally useful to the researcher - which one?

a) The ease by which the people behind online personas can be identified in

the non-virtual world.

b) The strong claim to sincerity of respondent claims due to the nature of the

online medium.

c) The absence of researcher-induced demand effects due to the respondent

being unaware of the researcher.

d) The absence of social desirability effects derived from the anonymity of

online interaction.

Answer 1

a) The ease by which the people behind online personas can be identified in the non-virtual world. in netnography, the researchers don't have to get into difficult mean of understanding who the respondent is in the non-virtual world, the respondent easily gives away the information, which can be observed and used upon by the researcher without them asking. They show themselves how they are in the non-virtual world, even though they have an online personas.