Digital Presence and Online Identity among Digital Scholars: A Thematic Analysis

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Digital Presence and Online Identity Among Digital Scholars: A Thematic Analysis

 

 

 

The paper presents a qualitative Thematic Analysis obtained from data collected with semi-structured interviews to 13 Portuguese and Brasilian subjects.

 

The interviews focus on the digital presence of scholars and identify three major themes: Digital Presence Awareness, Public vs Private Spheres, Offline/Online and Hybrid Selves.

 

After a comparison to previous literature about digital identity, the authors describe the three themes and link them to specific parts of the interviews.

 

 

Despite the literature review is extensive and appropriate, the data is poor from a statistical significance point of view, hence no valid general conclusions could be drown from it.

 

We are talking about 13 people, Brasilian or Portuguese, 35 to 60 years old. 

 

Just in Academia.edu there are dozens of university profiles in Brazil each one with thousands of accounts of affiliated scholars with online profiles.

 

The more data you add, the higher is the number of nuances in the responses and the interpretative schema is harder to apply.

 

Keeping few data is a simplification of the task, and in absence of a method that determines when the data is enough, the results cannot be generalized.

 

 

Even if this is a qualitative research, the authors should find a method for assessing the statistical significance of the data used.

 

In normal circumstances the authors should collect much more data, find a subsampling method to select the subjects for the interview and run a statistical t-test to determine the representativeness of the sample.

 

The alternative would be to state clearly that the results obtained cannot be generalized outside of limited scope of the research.

 

Morover, It would be useful if the authors could add a short paragraph where they state how they think this study would be useful to the scientific community.

Author Response

Reviewer 1
The paper presents a qualitative Thematic Analysis obtained from data collected with semi-structured interviews to 13 Portuguese and Brasilian subjects.
The interviews focus on the digital presence of scholars and identify three major themes: Digital Presence Awareness, Public vs Private Spheres, Offline/Online and Hybrid Selves.
After a comparison to previous literature about digital identity, the authors describe the three themes and link them to specific parts of the interviews.
Despite the literature review is extensive and appropriate, the data is poor from a statistical significance point of view, hence no valid general conclusions could be drown from it.	The idea that qualitative research should envisage results with generalizability is not consensual. In fact there are several authors who have expressed reservations about the idea that qualitative research should aim for generalizability.   Denzin and Lincoln (2011)  have highlighted the distinctiveness of qualitative inquiry and questioned the applicability of traditional notions of generalizability. They argue that qualitative research is concerned with understanding the richness, complexity, and diversity of human experiences, and that seeking generalizability may oversimplify or distort those experiences.   Charmaz (2014) emphasize the importance of interpretive, context-specific understandings. He argues that qualitative research should prioritize depth of understanding over generalizability, as it seeks to uncover the subjective meanings and perspectives of individuals or within specific contexts. He advocates for the concept of "fittingness" or relevance to the research question and context, rather than generalizability.   The concept of "fittingness" emphasizes the relevance and applicability of research findings to the specific research question and context. It prioritizes depth of understanding over generalizability and suggests that qualitative research should focus on uncovering subjective meanings and perspectives within a particular context. Fittingness entails ensuring that research design, data collection, and analysis align with the research question and context, and that findings resonate meaningfully within that specific setting. It recognizes the context-dependent nature of qualitative research and highlights the importance of context-specific insights rather than seeking generalizable results.   The ideas expressed by Braun & Clarke go in the same direction of valuing, in Thematic Analysis, the interpretation, coherence and reflexivity of researchers (see for example Braun, Clarke & Hayfield, 2022).     References:   Braun, V., Clarke, V., & Hayfield, N. (2022). ‘A starting point for your journey, not a map’: Nikki Hayfield in conversation with Virginia Braun and Victoria Clarke about thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 19(2), 424-445. https://doi.org/10.1080/14780887.2019.1670765   Charmaz, K. (2014). Constructing grounded theory. Sage Publications.   Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2011). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research (4th ed.). Sage Publications.
We are talking about 13 people, Brasilian or Portuguese, 35 to 60 years old.  Just in Academia.edu there are dozens of university profiles in Brazil each one with thousands of accounts of affiliated scholars with online profiles.	We never had the idea of looking for a representative sample of the “thousands of accounts of affiliated scholars with online profiles”. Instead of that, we have used a purposeful sample as it is explained in the paper, p. 4. Lines 173-191 Thematic Analysis encourages purposeful sampling, where participants are selected based on their relevance to the research question and the specific goals of the study. Purposive sampling enables researchers to select participants who are most relevant to the research question and can provide valuable insights. By intentionally targeting individuals who have specific characteristics, experiences, or expertise related to the research topic, researchers can gather in-depth information that directly addresses their research objectives. Rather than aiming for a representative or statistically significant sample, the emphasis is on capturing a range of perspectives and experiences that can shed light on the research topic. Thus, the selection of a smaller number of participants was a deliberate choice to ensure a comprehensive exploration of the research question within the given scope. In conclusion, we believe that the sample size of 13 participants in this qualitative study is aligned  with the guidelines and principles of Thematic Analysis as proposed by Clarke and Brown (2013) and Brown and Clarke (2021)..     References:   Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.   Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2013). Successful qualitative research: A practical guide for beginners. Sage Publications.
The more data you add, the higher is the number of nuances in the responses and the interpretative schema is harder to apply.   Keeping few data is a simplification of the task, and in absence of a method that determines when the data is enough, the results cannot be generalized.     Even if this is a qualitative research, the authors should find a method for assessing the statistical significance of the data used.	The question of the size of the sample in qualitative studies, namely in Thematic Analysis Studies as well as in other research paradigms like Grounded Theory (see Webster, 2016), have been treated more through the construct of “data saturation” then as size sample generated by statistical procedures envisaging a representative sample of subjects.   Data saturation refers to a point in which “thematic exhaustion”, is attained, or, in other words, a point where no significant new codes or new themes emerge. We have explicitly adressed this question in the paper, page 4 ,lines 183-191.   Although the data saturation criterion has been criticized by Braun & Clarcke (2021) for still showing some traces of positivism within qualitative research, as a precaution we have taken into account more conservative studies such as those of Guest, Bunce and Johnson (2006).   Anyway this is an ongoing discussion in the field of qualitative studies, namely around the constructs of “data saturation” versus “theoretical saturation” and it would deserve a paper on its own.     References:   Braun, Virginia and Victoria Clarke. (2021). To saturate or not to saturate? Questioning data saturation as a useful concept for thematic analysis and sample-size rationales, Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 13:2: 201-216. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1704846.   Guest, Greg, Arwen Bunce and Laura Johnson. 2006. "How Many lnterviews are Enough? an Experiment with Data Saturation and Variability." Field Methods 18 (1): 59-82. doi:10.1177/1525822X05279903.   Webster, Mark D. 2016. Examining Philosophy of Technology Using Grounded Theory Methods. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 17(2). https://doi.org/10.17169/fqs-17.2.2481.
The alternative would be to state clearly that the results obtained cannot be generalized outside of limited scope of the research.	Taking into account your suggestion In page 6.section 2.4 “Data Analysis”, line 233 where we state:  “While a Thematic Analysis can produce conceptual interpretations of data, it does not attempt to develop a theory” we have added the phrase: nor to envisage the generalization of results to other contexts”.
Morover, It would be useful if the authors could add a short paragraph where they state how they think this study would be useful to the scientific community.	We think that this issue has been abundantly covered in the theoretical part of the article (pages 1 to 4) and specially in the “Introduction” section, pages 1 and 2.

 

Parte superior do formulário

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

I extend a heartfelt congratulations to the authors for contributing this well-thought and thoroughly communicated research. Mind. Blown! I am hopeful that millions will read this manuscript because it highlights many academicians' and researchers' daily struggles, the intersecting "lines between public and private, personal and professional."

Perhaps the conclusion could indicate a few "next steps" in the evolution of this inquiry. That is, to "take it to the streets." What do non-academic, non-scientific audiences believe about academicians' online vs. offline personas? I suspect there are myriad of outcomes, as found in this research, existing among the populace. For example, I know and trust my family doctor. If I were to find his online persona included risk-taking behaviors (sky diving, etc.), it wouldn't affect my trust of his "professional life" because we have a 20+ year relationship. Likewise, my auto mechanic's online persona espouses political ideologies that conflict with my own. Nevertheless, I continually trust and rely on his expertise to fix my automobile. I too, know others (non-academics) in my neighborhood who have deliberately stopped or avoided some professionals because their online personas conflicted with my neighbors' beliefs. 

Maybe the larger issue of "public trust of science and scientists" is worthy of investigation, using the authors' methods in this research. Likewise, the now present fear of "cancel culture" may affect some in the scientific community, especially those working in well-publicized topics such as global warming, green energy, and social welfare programs. Additionally, wherein lies one's "freedom of expression," even conflicting expressions, for those in academia and/or scientific research, given the private-public interface has practical effects on perspective and attitudinal formation?

The authors have opened the proverbial Pandora's box, at least in my mind, for future studies in this line of inquiry. I wish them well in their continued study.

Minor edits:

“homo clausus” to o culture... should read “homo clausus” to a culture...

metaphor of live as a stage... should read metaphor of life as a stage

where subjets are... should read where subjects are

their own live a more... should read their own life a more

for small TA projets... should read for small TA projects (also, abbreviate "TA" after its first use... Thematic Analysis)

among our subjets due to... should read among our subjects due to

other hand those process are.. should read other hand those processes are

Author Response

Reviewer 2

 

We thank you very much for your kind and enthusiastic words. We are thrilled to hear that you found our research both thought-provoking and well-communicated.

We are well aware of the need to take “next steps” in this research theme. On the one hand, there is a domain that we have not even addressed in this paper, which has to do with "algorithmic identities", an absolutely pressing issue at this time of huge expansion of Artificial Intelligence.

On the other hand, we totally agree with you when you refer to the importance of this theme in what concerns its articulation with the culture of cancellation and with the problematic of freedom of expression. A brief but excellent discussion of these issues was initiated by Katia Hildebrandt (2018) where she questions whether the dominant academic culture would not impose on many academics a kind of self-censorship in which they are inhibited from projecting on the web their real opinions as well as more subjective dimensions of their personas, in the name of an idealized neutrality of the academic. (Hildebrandt, Katia. 2018. Nurturing Teacher Voice: Why educators’ online presence matters to educational equity. Texas EducationReview, 6(1): 34-38. https://doi.org/doi:10.15781/T2W08X05R).

 

We have corrected in the text the minor edits you pointed out in the text and thank you a lot for the attention with which you have identified them.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

I think this is an interesting and well written paper. I don't see a need for any major changes. A minor point is that there's a very dense paragraph on page 6 that could perhaps be broken into shorter paragraphs. I would also encourage you to reflect a bit on the participant demographic as I feel the nationality and age may also have influenced the results and how generalisable these may be. As such, I would be tempted to present this more as a case study rather than as finding results that are widely applicable, but I will leave that as a decision for the authors.

Author Response

Reviewer 3

We thank you a lot for taking the time to read our paper and for your feedback. We appreciate your comments and are pleased to hear that you found the paper interesting and well written.

Regarding the demographics of the participants, you raise a valid question about the influence of nationality on the results. We have some clues in our data that may lead to the hypothesis that there may have some cultural differences regarding for example the notion of privacy and the degree of exposure that subjects are willing to undertake on the web. But a serious deepening of this theme would require another study with interview questions more directed to the investigation of this specific topic. We believe that this would introduce a very interesting line of research in this field.

 

We have separated the big block on page 6 into 3 paragraphs.

 

Once again, we thank you for your thoughtful feedback and the time you took to review our paper.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

As requested in the previous review, the authors added a statement at line 233 that the study  "does not attempt to develop a theory. nor the generalization of results to other contexts."

I think that now the paper can be published.