ABSTRACT
Advances in digital technologies are re-shaping the boundaries of traditional research methods. The chapter overviews a recently completed mixed-methods online study which investigated the use of online resources to support people in recovery from substance misuse, to illustrate such ethical considerations when conducting social research using online data collection methods. It discusses the practical and ethical issues faced during the research process, alongside reflections on the use of online methodologies in psychosocial research. The chapter explores the uses of online recovery resources for substance misuse, through online data collection methodologies. The online survey also revealed that use of recovery forums was common among survey respondents, with the qualitative interviews indicating that this may be in part explained by the use of online recovery resources as a means of connection with others in recovery from substance misuse. Social science researchers are increasingly making use of online and digital technologies as a means of collecting data.
