ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses six methods that have been used in multiplayer online games (MOG) studies: observation/ethnography, survey/interviews, content and discourse analysis, experiments, network analysis, and case studies. One of the most common qualitative methods, the ethnographic approach used in MOG studies is usually called virtual ethnography or netnography, since it adapts the traditional techniques of ethnography to online environments. The survey is one of the most popular methods used in MOG studies. Historically, the survey is a well-established research method in the social sciences. Content/discourse analysis focuses on manifest features, such as linguistic, topical, and thematic features of MOG players' communication. This emphasis can provide a unique perspective to understand and interpret players' behaviors. Experimental research is any research in which data are derived from the systematic manipulation of variables in an experiment. Network analysis provides a unique perspective in that it enables the study of MOGs as social networks.
