Researching Virtual Worlds: Methodologies for Studying Emergent Practices

✍ Scribed by Louise Phillips, Ursula Plesner

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2013
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 197
• Series: Routledge Studies in New Media and Cyberculture
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This volume presents a wide range of methodological strategies that are designed to take into account the complex, emergent, and continually shifting character of virtual worlds. It interrogates how virtual worlds emerge as objects of study through the development and application of various methodological strategies. Virtual worlds are not considered objects that exist as entities with fixed attributes independent of our continuous engagement with them and interpretation of them. Instead, they are conceived of as complex ensembles of technology, humans, symbols, discourses, and economic structures, ensembles that emerge in ongoing practices and specific situations.

A broad spectrum of perspectives and methodologies is presented: Actor-Network-Theory and post-Actor-Network-Theory, performativity theory, ethnography, discourse analysis, Sense-Making Methodology, visual ethnography, multi-sited ethnography, and Social Network Analysis.

✦ Subjects

Games & Strategy Guides;Game Design;Game Programming;Minecraft;Pokemon;Strategy Guides;Video Game Art;Computers & Technology;Internet, Groupware, & Telecommunications;Networking & Cloud Computing;Computers & Technology;Communication & Media Studies;Social Sciences;Politics & Social Sciences;Methodology;Social Sciences;Politics & Social Sciences;Computer Science;Algorithms;Artificial Intelligence;Database Storage & Design;Graphics & Visualization;Networking;Object-Oriented Software Design;Operati