Methodological Challenges for Studying Cross-Platform Conversations

Abstract

During the last decade, the multimedia landscape has evolved in several ways, calling for a reconsideration of methodologies for studying mobile communication. Understanding mobile communication no longer entails focusing on either voice or text in isolation; rather we need to study how all aspects of mobile communication together make up a continuous conversation of intertwined messaging. People use a multitude of channels and platforms in their multi-media conversation. However, there are both ethical and technical challenges of studying evolving cross-platform conversation. In this talk, we address a few ethical and technological challenges involved in trying to capture a wider picture of the evolving cross-platform conversation.