Social network analysis: New ethical approaches through collective reflexivity. Introduction to the special issue of Social Networks

Paola Tubaro (1) , Louise Ryan (2) , Antonio A. Casilli (3, 4, 5) , Alessio D’angelo (6)

1 TAU - TAckling the Underspecified
2 London Metropolitan University
3 IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris
4 SID - Sociologie Information-Communication Design
5 SES - Département Sciences Economiques et Sociales
6 UON - University of Nottingham, UK

Research in social network analysis (SNA) faces unprecedented ethical challenges today due to both technological developments (‘big’ data) and a growing tendency toward institutionalization of ethics governance. We argue that a suitable response requires a more comprehensive approach to SNA ethics, and we identify two main paths toward this goal. First, we need to recognize the breadth of the subject, no longer limited to anonymity and consent. Second, we need to encourage the active participation and contribution of SNA scholars. We advocate a need for greater reflexivity at both individual and collective levels, whereby researchers can learn from their own and their peers’ experiences, and foster a more ethically ‘virtuous’ approach within the whole SNA community.

Keywords: Research ethics; social network analysis; reflexivity

Domains: Humanities and Social Sciences; Computers and Society [cs.CY]; Social and Information Networks [cs.SI]

Paola Tubaro, Louise Ryan, Antonio A. Casilli, Alessio D’angelo. Social network analysis: New ethical approaches through collective reflexivity. Introduction to the special issue of Social Networks. Social Networks, 2021, Recent ethical challenges in social network analysis, 67, pp.1-8. ⟨10.1016/j.socnet.2020.12.001⟩. ⟨hal-03090287⟩