Methodological Approaches to Location-Based Social Networking (LBSN) Research
Presented at ASONAM
This tutorial was accepted into the 2017 IEEE/ACM International Conference on Advances in Social Networks Analysis and Mining. Conference location: Mercure Sydney, Australia, 31 July - 03 August, 2017. Presentation: 11am-1pm.
About ASONAM
The study of social networks originated in social and business communities. In recent years, social network research has advanced significantly; the development of sophisticated techniques for Social Network Analysis and Mining (SNAM) has been highly influenced by the online social Web sites, email logs, phone logs and instant messaging systems, which are widely analyzed using graph theory and machine learning techniques. People perceive the Web increasingly as a social medium that fosters interaction among people, sharing of experiences and knowledge, group activities, community formation and evolution. This has led to a rising prominence of SNAM in academia, politics, homeland security and business. This follows the pattern of known entities of our society that have evolved into networks in which actors are increasingly dependent on their structural embedding.
The international conference on Advances in Social Network Analysis and Mining (ASONAM 2017) will primarily provide an interdisciplinary venue that will bring together practitioners and researchers from a variety of SNAM fields to promote collaborations and exchange of ideas and practices. ASONAM 2017 is intended to address important aspects with a specific focus on the emerging trends and industry needs associated with social networking analysis and mining. The conference solicits experimental and theoretical works on social network analysis and mining along with their application to real life situations. More here.
Instructors
Dr Roba Abbas, Prof Katina Michael, University of Wollongong
Abstract
Location based social networking (LBSN) is the convergence between location based services (LBS) and online social networking (OSN). LBSN applications offer users the ability to view and share location details with “friends” remotely, and in real-time, using a smart phone, desktop and/or other mobile devices. Users invite their friends to participate in LBSN and there is a process of consent that follows. LBSN tools essentially mesh together the positives and negatives of OSN and LBS, creating a unique domain of enquiry, thereby forcing researchers to ask new questions. While research in this field is heavily focussed on quantitative analysis and mining techniques, there is a lack of consideration of qualitative approaches to understanding LBSN applications, and the insights that can be garnered from the implementation of such techniques. This introductory tutorial offers alternative methodological approaches, which deliver rich, scenario-based outcomes that can be utilised to supplement existing quantitative techniques.
Rationale
This tutorial is suited to ASONAM given its focus on alternative methodological approaches that can be adopted for conducting research into the LBSN domain, which can provide rich qualitative data and insights that can complement existing quantitative techniques. Rationale is also provided in the abstract.
Target audience and prerequisites
This introductory course will enable tutorial attendees to gain a comprehensive understanding of methodological approaches to LBSN research. The tutorial will cover approaches such as focus groups, experiments, observational studies and socio-technical design techniques, with a chief focus qualitative data analysis. Given the introductory nature of this session, there are no prerequisites for attendance.
Tutorial Outline
Location-Based Social Networking (LBSN) introduction
· Concepts and Definitions
· Industry statistics
· Underlying technology
· Current situation and trends
Demonstration of applications and devices
· Smartphone and mobile applications
· Dedicated data logging devices
Qualitative research
· Overview of the qualitative approach
Focus groups: exploratory approach
· Research design: overview of focus group methods and significance of “friends” taxonomy
· Data collection and analysis: stimulus and question pack
· Discussion: challenges, value of this methodological approach
Observation/experiments: usability studies
· Research design: overview of observational methods and significance of usability studies
· Data collection and analysis: geospatial analysis and scenario development
· Discussion: challenges, value of this methodological approach
Socio-technical design: a consultative approach
· Research design: introduction to socio-technical theory and related concepts
· Data collection and analysis: socio-technical design phases
· Discussion: challenges, value of this methodological approach
Conclusion
· Implications
· Future research
Focus Group - Guide (Fusco 2009)
Stimulus Material - Example of LBSN Application
Methodological Approaches in LBSN Research
A list of other tutorials given by the authors
Michael, K. (2017), Humancentric RFID: Socio-Technical Learnings from Industry Cases, 11th Annual IEEE International Conference on RFID, Phoenix Convention Centre, Pheonix, Arizona [Number of Attendees: 30].
Michael, K. (2017), The Technological Trajectory of RFID: Science Fiction, Business Scenarios, and Transnational Surveys, 11th Annual IEEE International Conference on RFID, Phoenix Convention Centre, Pheonix, Arizona [Number of Attendees: 30].
Abbas, R. (2017), Big (Geospatial) Data and Location Intelligence in Action: The Consumer Perspective, Cross Collaboration SOTON-UOW, Gerringong, Australia [Number of Attendees: 8].
Michael, K. and Hayes. A. (2013), Body Worn Video Recorders: The Socio-Technical Implications of Gathering Direct Evidence, INFORMA Police Technology Forum, Melbourne, Australia [50].
Abbas, R. & Michael, K. (2009), Covert Policing Using Unobtrusive Global Positioning Systems Trackers: A Demonstration, The Social Implications of Covert Policing Workshop, The Australian National University, Canberra [Number of Attendees: 20].
Authors' short bio and their expertise related to the tutorial
Dr Roba Abbas is an Honorary Fellow and Research Associate with the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences at the University of Wollongong, Australia and is the Associate Editor (Administrator) for the IEEE Technology and Society Magazine. She completed her Australian Research Council (ARC)-funded Doctor of Philosophy on the topic of Location-Based Services Regulation in 2012, earning special commendations for her thesis titled Location-Based Services Regulation in Australia: A Socio-Technical Approach. She has a strong interest in socio-technical theory, social media, and location-enabled technologies such as Location-Based Social Networking, and has published numerous papers in these areas. Abbas has co-edited the Privacy and Security Issues in Social Networks section in the Encyclopedia of Social Network Analysis and Mining, and has previously co-edited a special issue in Cases on Information Technology on the Social Implications of Emerging Technologies. She has written numerous papers for outlets such as the Computer Law and Security Review and IT and People.
Dr Katina Michael is a professor in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences at the University of Wollongong, Australia. Katina is the IEEE Technology and Society Magazine editor-in-chief, and IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine senior editor. Since 2008 she has been a board member of the Australian Privacy Foundation. Michael researches on the socio-ethical implications of emerging technologies, including Location-Based Social Networking Applications. She has written and edited six books, guest edited numerous special issue journals on themes related to radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, supply chain management, location-based services, location-based social networking, innovation and surveillance/uberveillance. Among them is a 2009 reference volume on Innovative Automatic Identification and Location Based Services. Katina has an industry background on the application of geographic information systems in telecommunications engineering with Nortel Networks.