Informed Consent in the Study of On-Line Communities: A Reflection on the Effects of Computer-Mediated Social Research

In studying on-line communities, researchers must consider the unique environmental factors involved in order to minimize potential harm to human subjects. In particular, the often commented upon disinhibiting effect of computer-mediated communication can encourage people to agree to or even insist on a kind of public exposure by which they may eventually be harmed. On the Internet, where perceptions of interpersonal affect and effects may be obscured by the nature of the medium itself, care must be taken to guard against not only any increased tendency for researchers to objectify subjects, but also the tendency for subjects to underestimate the potential consequences of consent. The criteria for informed consent that may be sufficient in face-toface research environments are not necessarily so in a medium in which subjective experience is easily objectified and information is easily devalued.     

Researching Internet Communities: Proposed Ethical Guidelines for the Reporting of Results

Communication researchers and social scientists are quickly discovering the value of data that exists in the postings of members of Internet e-mail, Usenet, and real-time groups. The ability to communicate with one's peers, no matter how esoteric the interests, is causing an explosion in the number of new virtual communities. The interpersonal dynamics of these groups are increasingly coming under the scrutiny of academic research. The publicly available archived records of Internet virtual communities are being analyzed for a wide variety of research interests. The ability to do naturalistic observations of group dynamics, as they are exhibited in these exchanges of text, has captured the attention of many researchers. The institutional review boards of major universities are granting researchers exempt or expedited (exempt from full review) status for this work, due to the public nature of the notes being analyzed. These studies often involve the lack of informed consent, where the group members under study are unaware they are being monitored. There is a potential for psychological harm to the members of these groups, depending on the way results are reported. This article explores the ethical considerations that must be taken into account to protect cyberspace participants. The guidelines proposed are based on the American Psychological Association ethical guidelines for use of human subjects in research. An explanation is offered as to how such guidelines can best be applied to the study of Internet communities. The constructs of Group Accessibility (the public/private nature of the actual cyberspace occupied by a group) and Perceived Privacy (the level of privacy that group members assume they have) are defined and proposed as two dimensions by which individual Internet communities may be evaluated in order to assure the ethical reporting of research findings.     

Genomic Research and Data-Mining Technology: Implications for Personal Privacy and Informed Consent

This essay examines issues involving personal privacy and informed consent that arise at the intersection of information and communication technology (ICT) and population genomics research. I begin by briefly examining the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) program requirements that were established to guide researchers working on the Human Genome Project (HGP). Next I consider a case illustration involving deCODE Genetics, a privately owned genetic company in Iceland, which raises some ethical concerns that are not clearly addressed in the current ELSI guidelines. The deCODE case also illustrates some ways in which an ICT technique known as data mining has both aided and posed special challenges for researchers working in the field of population genomics. On the one hand, data-mining tools have greatly assisted researchers in mapping the human genome and in identifying certain "disease genes" common in specific populations (which, in turn, has accelerated the process of finding cures for diseases tha affect those populations). On the other hand, this technology has significantly threatened the privacy of research subjects participating in population genomics studies, who may, unwittingly, contribute to the construction of new groups (based on arbitrary and non-obvious patterns and statistical correlations) that put those subjects at risk for discrimination and stigmatization. In the final section of this paper I examine some ways in which the use of data mining in the context of population genomics research poses a critical challenge for the principle of informed consent, which traditionally has played a central role in protecting the privacy interests of research subjects participating in epidemiological studies.     

“But the data is already public”: on the ethics of research in Facebook

In 2008, a group of researchers publicly released profile data collected from the Facebook accounts of an entire cohort of college students from a US university. While good-faith attempts were made to hide the identity of the institution and protect the privacy of the data subjects, the source of the data was quickly identified, placing the privacy of the students at risk. Using this incident as a case study, this paper articulates a set of ethical concerns that must be addressed before embarking on future research in social networking sites, including the nature of consent, properly identifying and respecting expectations of privacy on social network sites, strategies for data anonymization prior to public release, and the relative expertise of institutional review boards when confronted with research projects based on data gleaned from social media.     

Go Away: Participant Objections to Being Studied and the Ethics of Chatroom Research

In this article we present an empirical study aimed at better understanding the potential for harm when conducting research in chatrooms. For this study, we entered IRC chatrooms on the ICQ network and posted one of three messages to tell participants that we were recording them: a recording message, an opt-in message, or an opt-out message. In the fourth condition, we entered the chatroom but did not post a message. We recorded and analyzed how subjects responded to being studied. Results of a regression analysis indicate significantly more hostility in the three conditions where we said something than in the control condition. We were kicked out of 63.3% of the chatrooms we entered in the three message conditions compared with 29% of the chatrooms in the control condition. There were no significant differences between any of these three conditions. Notably, when given a chance to opt in, only 4 of 766 potential subjects chose to do so. Results also indicate significant effects for both size and the number of moderators. For every 13 additional people in a chatroom, the likelihood getting kicked out was cut in half. While legal and ethical concerns are distinct, we conclude by arguing that studying chatrooms constitutes human subjects research under U.S. law, but that a waiver of consent is appropriate in most cases as obtaining consent is impracticable.     

“Go Away”: Participant Objections to Being Studied and the Ethics of Chatroom Research

In this article we present an empirical study aimed at better understanding the potential for harm when conducting research in chatrooms. For this study, we entered IRC chatrooms on the ICQ network and posted one of three messages to tell participants that we were recording them: a recording message, an opt-in message, or an opt-out message. In the fourth condition, we entered the chatroom but did not post a message. We recorded and analyzed how subjects responded to being studied. Results of a regression analysis indicate significantly more hostility in the three conditions where we said something than in the control condition. We were kicked out of 63.3% of the chatrooms we entered in the three message conditions compared with 29% of the chatrooms in the control condition. There were no significant differences between any of these three conditions. Notably, when given a chance to opt in, only 4 of 766 potential subjects chose to do so. Results also indicate significant effects for both size and the number of moderators. For every 13 additional people in a chatroom, the likelihood getting kicked out was cut in half. While legal and ethical concerns are distinct, we conclude by arguing that studying chatrooms constitutes human subjects research under U.S. law, but that a waiver of consent is appropriate in most cases as obtaining consent is impracticable.     

影响中国科技创新需求的障碍与对策

在中国迈向国际化的进程中,来自于传统文化和制度层面的障碍已经成为根本性障碍。上海科技资源配置的国际化和民间化进程表明:在竞争从外延转向内涵的情况下,离开制度创新和环境的先导性变迁为创新源生长提供的保障,脱离资源配置的民间化,有朝一日醒来一看,除了“地皮”和“空架子”外,我们将一无所有。全球视野不能以丧失民族或区域的切身利益和核心竞争力能力为代价。因此,处理好国际化与民间化之间的关系,进一步理顺规则,已成为中国各个区域发展中都必须面对的首要基本问题。     

我国科研人员职业生涯成长轨迹与影响因素研究

本文对我国科研人员职业生涯的成长轨迹与影响因素开展定量研究,以科研人员获得博士学位的时间为基点,采用事件史分析方法分析科研人员职业生涯中的若干重要节点和事件,包括职称晋升、第一次重要学术产出、第一次获得荣誉奖励以及第一次担任行政或学术职务等关键事件。在此基础上,进一步分析个人家庭因素（性别、孩子状况和配偶文化）、教育背景因素（毕业院校、导师身份和博士后经历）以及社会环境因素（工作单位、流动状况和学科领域）等对科研人员职业生涯成长的影响状况。结果发现,科研人员职业生涯成长过程中的“累积效应”依然明显,如毕业院校、博士后经历等教育背景都会对科研人员职业生涯的成长产生正向影响;师承效应在科研人员职业生涯发展中发挥重要作用;流动经历增加了科研人员进入到职业生涯中的关键事件比例等。基于研究结果,文章最后提出如何更好的促进科研人员成长的政策建议。     

科研人员省际流动网络分析及演化过程研究

   本文基于“科学家在线”平台数据,运用复杂网络分析方法,按照年份分别构建2010—2017年间全国34个省份之间科研人员流动网络模型,测度并分析8年间科研人员流动的复杂性网络整体特征和随时间变化的趋势。研究发现：（1）8年间科研人员流动呈现整体较为明显的“无标度”特性,即北京、上海、江苏等经济科技发达地区不仅流入科研人员的规模较大,流出科研人员的规模也不小,但是全国大部分省份流动科研人员规模较为有限;（2）除了小部分省份之外其余省份的人员流入流出相对较为均衡,一些经济科技发达省份在一定程度上也是全国或本区域科研人员流动的中心节点;（3）从发展态势来看,8年间全国省级科技人员流动态势相对平稳,但是省份之间科研人员流动规模差距越来越明显,经济科技发达省份与其他省份科研人员流动的规模相比差距越来越大;（4）最为突出的变化是流动人员规模显著增加,人员流动更加便利。     

基于科技媒体视角的研究前沿识别方法研究与实证

本文提出一种基于科技媒体视角的研究前沿识别与探测方法,能够有效揭示研究前沿的重大研究突破,追踪最新研究进展和发展趋势。以已探测研究前沿或某主题领域最新文献簇作为知识基础,基于科技媒体的新闻报道、评论和观点文章,识别知识基础的施引文献中具有潜在影响力的最新研究成果或进展,进而探测最新研究前沿及其发展趋势,并以CRSIPR-Cas9研究前沿为例进行实证分析。该方法作为科学计量学识别研究前沿的重要补充,有助于情报研究人员和科研工作者更全面准确地识别研究前沿,掌握最新研究动态,也为精细化用户情报服务提供新的思路。     

Surveillance and persuasion

This paper is as much about surveillance as about persuasive technologies (PTs). With regard to PTs it raises the question about the ethical limits of persuasion. It will be argued that even some forms of self-imposed persuasive soft surveillance technologies may be considered unethical. Therefore, the ethical evaluation of surveillance technologies should not be limited to privacy issues. While it will also be argued that PTs may become instrumental in pre-commitment strategies, it will also be demonstrated that the use of persuasive surveillance technologies in order to influence the users to become more compliant, to get their consent more easily or making it harder to opt out of the system does give rise to ethical issues.     

数据治理中“打包式”知情同意模式的再检视

[目的/意义]“知情同意”模式一直是数据处理重要的合法性基础,但其在适用过程中也存在现实困境。我国《数据安全法》和《个人信息保护法》尚在持续完善之中,我国要深度参与全球数据治理,就需要关注“知情同意”的有关问题。[方法/过程]以谷歌公司因涉嫌违反欧盟《一般数据保护条例》而被法国国家信息与自由委员会开出巨额罚单一案为考察中心,从算法的特征、个人数据的多样性以及数据主体与数据控制者间的关系三个角度揭示“知情同意”模式存在的问题,从案件焦点回归现实困境,寻求改良现有“知情同意”模式的方法。[结果/结论]一方面要强化数据控制者的责任与义务,从外部监管、内部优化以及事后救济三个维度补充“知情同意”模式的效力,另一方面要引入“动态同意”模式,稳固“知情同意”模式的法律基础。     

An empirical investigation of the management practices and the development of electronic commerce in Mauritius

Electronic Commerce (EC) is expected to change dramatically the way that organisations operate. Businesses invest in Information Technology and prepare their infrastructure so that they can support EC applications. The potential of EC however, is not confined to individual companies but extends to whole nations. Governments are considered as a key stakeholder in the successful development of EC and their commitment and support must be ensured. This paper reports on a survey of 33 IS and business managers in Mauritius and discusses the management practices, applications, problems and technological situation with respect to EC development in this country. This Indian Ocean island state aims at developing and maintaining its competitive advantage through EC, thus becoming a centre in its region. The findings of this paper are useful for both researchers and practitioners as they provide an insight to critical EC management issues, which concern both individual organisations and policy makers. Furthermore the results of this study can be used as a vehicle for EC development evaluation at an organisational as well as at a national level.     

基于共词聚类分析的国外知识密集服务研究热点分析

以Web of Science中所有数据库2005-2014年的数据作为统计来源,对其进行计量分析,找出高频关键词,运用关键词共词分析,利用文献计量软件Bibexcel生成高频关键词共词矩阵,结合Netdraw绘制关键词网络可视图,借助SPSS进行聚类分析、多维尺度分析,探究高频关键词存在的内在联系,分析近十年来知识密集服务领域中的研究现状和发展趋势,以期为后续研究提供参考。     

The crisis of consent: how stronger legal protection may lead to weaker consent in data protection

In this article we examine the effectiveness of consent in data protection legislation. We argue that the current legal framework for consent, which has its basis in the idea of autonomous authorisation, does not work in practice. In practice the legal requirements for consent lead to ‘consent desensitisation’, undermining privacy protection and trust in data processing. In particular we argue that stricter legal requirements for giving and obtaining consent (explicit consent) as proposed in the European Data protection regulation will further weaken the effectiveness of the consent mechanism. Building on Miller and Wertheimer’s ‘Fair Transaction’ model of consent we will examine alternatives to explicit consent.     

Fine-grained citation count prediction via a transformer-based model with among-attention mechanism

Previous studies have confirmed that citation mention and location reveal different contributions of the cited articles, and that both are significant in scientific research evaluation. However, traditional citation count prediction only focuses on predicting citation frequency. In this paper, we propose a novel fine-grained citation count prediction task (FGCCP), which aims to predict in-text citation count from each structural function of a paper separately. Specifically, we treated this task as a “sequence to sequence” issue and a multi-task learning job, in which both the inputs and the outputs are based on the sequence pattern of citations from different structural functions. To fulfill FGCCP, we proposed a transformer-based model (i.e. MTAT) in which a novel among-attention mechanism is employed. Based on an empirical study of full-text documents from PubMed Central Open Access Subset, our model achieves satisfactory prediction accuracy, and surpasses common machine learning and deep learning models on FGCCP. Moreover, we also discuss the potential role of the among-attention mechanism and the reason why our proposed model outperforms state-of-the-art strategies. FGCCP may provide more detailed decision-making evidence and evaluation basis for researchers in scientific research evaluation. In addition, MTAT is a general model which can be easily deployed in other multi-task learning jobs.     

Facilitating implementation of organs-on-chips by open platform technology

Organ-on-chip (OoC) and multi-organs-on-chip (MOoC) systems have the potential to play an important role in drug discovery, disease modeling, and personalized medicine. However, most devices developed in academic labs remain at a proof-of-concept level and do not yet offer the ease-of-use, manufacturability, and throughput that are needed for widespread application. Commercially available OoC are easier to use but often lack the level of complexity of the latest devices in academia. Furthermore, researchers who want to combine different chips into MOoC systems are limited to one supplier, since commercial systems are not compatible with each other. Given these limitations, the implementation of standards in the design and operation of OoCs would strongly facilitate their acceptance by users. Importantly, the implementation of such standards must be carried out by many participants from both industry and academia to ensure a widespread acceptance and adoption. This means that standards must also leave room for proprietary technology development next to promoting interchangeability. An open platform with standardized interfacing and user-friendly operation can fulfill these requirements. In this Perspective article, the concept of an open platform for OoCs is defined from a technical perspective. Moreover, we discuss the importance of involving different stakeholders in the development, manufacturing, and application of such an open platform.     

高校科研人员专利行为对学术影响力的实证研究

当前我国高校科研人员的专利行为快速增长,如何有效平衡学术研究的公共属性和专利行为的私权属性是高校面临的重要问题。以2008-2017年112所“211”高校及省部级共建高校多专业科研人员的专利行为和学术影响力相关数据构建研究数据库,综合运用负二项回归和二元Logistics回归,实证分析高校科研人员专利行为在“申请-授权”和“授权-交易”两阶段特征对其学术影响力的影响效应。研究表明：高校科研人员的专利申请数量与学术影响力之间存在显著的倒U型关系,随着专利申请数的增加,学术影响力受到的正向影响会增加,当专利申请数达到年均35项左右时,出现负向影响;当高校科研人员采用独占许可进行专利交易时,学术影响力会受到显著的抑制效应。为我国高校专利的全过程管理和相关政策制定提供了参考依据。     

情绪的ERP研究新进展

ERP技术是研究情绪问题的有效手段 ,实验对象包括正常被试以及心境障碍的病人 .可从视觉或 和听觉通道给予情绪刺激材料 ,观察P1、N1和P30 0等ERP成分的变化 .研究发现 ,情绪可增强被试对情绪事件的注意强度 ,尤其是新异的情绪内容较易得到识别 .在正常被试中 ,情绪词相较中性词能引起较大的新旧效应 ,抑郁症患者的新旧效应与正常人有所不同 ,但其再认成绩也能被情绪内容提高 .在研究情绪对决策行为的影响时 ,观察到内侧额叶负波 (MFN) .ERP研究表明 ,情绪活动也存在大脑功能的偏侧化效应 .