Call for Papers

Methodological Approaches to Digital Spaces (MADS)
A FREE Research Symposium
April 9, 2025
The University of Manchester, UK and online
https://mads2025.com/

Deadline for submission of abstracts: January 3, 2025

Today’s digital world is increasingly complex. Amidst contexts which include emergent privacy concerns, new methodologies for collecting data, and innovative forms and mediums of digital art, we see an opportunity to gather those who examine such online spaces and learn from our interrelated research.

We have accordingly organised MADS (Methodological Approaches to Digital Spaces), a FREE interdisciplinary symposium launched under the guidance and funding of NWCDTP to promote methodological and ontological advancements in the studies of digital spaces.

MADS has outlined four primary areas of research for our April collective, and included examples of topics that talks might explore.

1. Ethics

Ethics examples include:

• collection and storage of personal information
• cyberbullying
• content monetisation
• AI accreditation
• prejudice built into digital systems

2. Inclusivity

Inclusivity examples include:

• online spaces for LGBTQIA+ folks
• citizen journalism
• smartphone popularity
• digital poverty
• digitisation in care homes

3. Collection & Analysis

C&A examples include:

• research methods
• data mining methods
• data sorting methods

4. Digital Archives

DA examples include:

• digital archives and time
• implications of internet archives like The Wayback Machine
• digital ephemerality

Examples of contemporary digital spaces that might be explored at MADS are internet forums and interactive websites, social media, video games, and metaverse. A diverse array of panels will invite theoretical researchers, methodologists, practice-based scholars, and interdisciplinary teams from a wide variety of fields to present their findings and explore the continuously shifting landscape of digital spaces together.

Potential contexts through which the above topics might be explored include the following. This list is by no means exhaustive.

Engaging with the Theoretical Foundations of Studying Digital Spaces

The intellectual history of studies which surround digital spaces includes ethnography, sociology of science, philosophy of fiction, and many others. Talks that engage with such theoretical approaches that underpin digital research are enthusiastically invited.

Methodologies of Researching Digital Spaces

This area invites talks that explore how digital spaces can be methodologically approached. We encourage researchers to share their explorations of research methodologies, whether they work in mixed methods, quantitative, qualitative, practice-based, or practice-led paradigms.

Internet Forums, Social Networks, and Social Media: Internet Archives

Studies of internet forums and social networks allow us to explore the ramifications of an arguably ubiquitous social phenomenon. More specifically, the archival and reader engagement sections of these spaces store and offer a wealth of accessible personal and global information. We welcome diverse studies into the unique nature of these digital spaces and their profound impact on our lives.

Studies of Video Games and Contemporary Virtual Reality Spaces

The ever-changing nature of technological development brings us unique experiences of video games, metaverses and virtual reality. Exploring these unique digital spaces provides us with insights into philosophical, social, political, and cultural dimensions of our everyday lives.

Interdisciplinary Studies of Digital Spaces

As a research subject, digital spaces always existed in the overlap of anthropology, sociology, ethnography, philosophy and computer science. The unique nature of the digital world allows for the collaborative effort between scientists from the most unexpected fields, and here, at MADS, we want to hear more about such ambitious projects. We welcome all sorts of collaborative interdisciplinary research papers on digital spaces.

SUBMISSIONS AND OTHER INFORMATION

Please submit 250-word abstract, contact information, and 50-word biography here.

Abstracts due 3rd January, 2025

Notes of acceptance sent 5th February, 2025

The event will include a complimentary vegetarian lunch and refreshments throughout the day.

This symposium can offer 15 travel bursaries to PGRs studying at any of the NWCDTP’s member institutions.

MADS welcomes researchers of diverse backgrounds and research that centres intersectionality and inclusivity.