Student web logs

Bradley University, MM 333: Introduction to Field Research in Virtual Worlds

Below, you will find research reports and papers written by undergraduate students in "MM 333: Introduction to Field Research in Virtual Worlds" at Bradley University.

These students used qualitative research methods to explore communities of practice in Second Life. Each student in the class pursued a different community. Their term papers and web logs are linked below.

In the interests of reciprocity, we are sharing the findings of our research with the Second Life community. Please wander through the site at your leisure, and take a look at the student's preliminary research findings. We would love to hear your constructive feedback; student emails are listed on each blog; the instructor is Ed Lamoureux <ell@bradley.edu>.

Students in this introductory course do not complete a full research project; rather, they complete a number of assignments on the way to a research prospectus at the end of the term. The blog tracks their progress for the purposes of observation, supervision, and as way to return knowledge to the communities of practice they study.

Gritty details about course mechanics and pedagogical premises are elaborated elsewhere, as are extensive acknowledgements of those who supported the course in some way. We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who helped us out along the way. Thank you.

Click on a student's name to view his web log.