The Digital Shift and the Social Research: Methods and Practices

'The Digital Shift and the Social Research: Methods and Practices' offers a comprehensive exploration of how the digital era, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, has transformed the field of social research. Drawing on both theoretical discussions and empirical studies, the book provides an in-depth analysis of the impact of digital tools on research methods, behaviour, and interactions, while addressing the ethical challenges that arise in online contexts. The first part of the book examines the expansion of traditional research methods through digital platforms, with a focus on how these innovations shape social norms and practices. The second part shifts attention to education, presenting strategies to improve student engagement and foster collaborative learning in the virtual classroom. The third part highlights groundbreaking case studies from the University of Salern... o, illustrating innovative pedagogical approaches in teaching social research methodology. By integrating insights from across the fields of digital research, pedagogy, and ethics, this work challenges researchers and educators alike to rethink conventional approaches and adapt to the rapidly changing digital environment. Ideal for students, educators, and professionals, it serves as both a reference and a practical guide for navigating the evolving landscape of social research. Original and timely, this book will appeal to academics, practitioners, and researchers in social sciences, providing not only theoretical perspectives but also hands-on solutions for digital research and learning environments.   Show more

List of Figures
List of Tables
Author Biography
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1
Theoretical and methodological challenges in digital social research
Chapter 2
Redefining university teaching practices through ICT
Chapter 3
Teaching digital research methods
Chapter 4
Digital learning and visualisation
Chapter 5
Narrative in social research: Tradition and innovation
Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendix: Figures and Tables
... Index  Show more

Paolo Diana is a Full Professor, PhD, at the University of Salerno, where he teaches Sociology and Social Research, Sociology of Sport, and Sociology of Health. He leads the research activities of the 'DiSoSWLab – Digital Society, Sport and Wellbeing Laboratory at DISUFF – Department of Human, Philosophical and Educational Sciences.' He is also the director of the scientific series 'Officinae: Methodological Knowledge and Empirical Research in Social Sciences' for Novalogos Editions. He is a co-editor in chief of the scientific journal 'Eracle: Journal of Sport and Social Sciences.' He is the ... author of numerous articles published in national and international scientific journals.  Show more

Online ethnography, virtual fieldwork, remote teaching tools, digital surveys, data privacy in research, e-learning platforms, hybrid learning models, digital literacy, social media analytics, computational social science, big data in social research, virtual collaboration, user-generated content, network analysis, asynchronous learning, algorithmic bias in research