Web archives for data collection: An ethics case study

Abstract

Background: Web archives offer researchers a promising source for large-scale longitudinal data collection; however, their complex social and technical infrastructures create an array of ethical concerns. In addition, there is a notable lack of guidance available for researchers hoping to conduct0 ethical research using web archives. Methods: We present an ethical decision-making case study based on an ongoing research project using the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine to study faculty appointments and mobility at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Results: This paper contributes to information ethics discourse by expanding on the Association of Internet Researchers’ recommendations for ethical decision-making, and mapping ethical considerations for each stage of the project within existing conceptual frameworks for research using web archives. Conclusions: By utilizing internet research guidance and web archive research frameworks in a case study approach, we hope to aid future researchers conducting internet research of a similar nature by serving as a useful reference.