Methodological and Ethical Considerations in LGBTQ-Focused Online Ethnographic Research: A Systematic Review and a Human-Centered Framework

Online ethnography is a qualitative research approach particularly effective for studying marginalized or vulnerable communities that are often difficult for researchers to access. This approach is especially relevant for LGBTQ communities, where members often form connections and build communities online. To advance current understanding of online ethnography for LGBTQ populations, this systematic review collected and analyzed 62 Web of Science-indexed LGBTQ-focused online ethnographic studies that directly involve LGBTQ individuals as participants or explicitly examine LGBTQ-related issues. Specifically, this systematic review examines and discusses seven aspects of methodological practices and four ethical considerations. The seven methodological aspects cover populations, online sites, sampling, data collection, data analysis, researcher positionality and reflexivity, and methods for ensuring research rigor. The four ethical considerations include informed consent, respect and trust, privacy and confidentiality, and data security and reuse. Based on the review findings, the authors propose a human-centered framework for conducting LGBTQ-focused online ethnographic research. The authors also identify gaps in current LGBTQ-focused online ethnographic research and propose future directions to enhance methodological rigor, ethical compliance, and the beneficial impact of online ethnography for LGBTQ populations.