Student web logs

Bradley University, MM 490: Field Research in Second Life

Below, you will find research reports and papers written by undergraduate students in "MM 490: Field Research in Second Life" 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>.

Please keep in mind the limitations of this process. The course occurs within the 3 week January 2007 interim term. Time was too short to pursue in-depth ethnographic research; plus, this class is an introduction to qualitative research for students who have not previously taken a research course. This was the first time that tese had undertaken a research project of this scope. Nevertheless, this work reflects the efforts of a new generation of scholars grappling with the social significance of this virtual environments.

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.