Algorithms, contexts, governance : An introduction to the special issue

This introduction to the special issue on algorithmic governance in context offers an outline of the field and summarizes each contribution to the issue.Peer reviewe

Patterns of Surprise and Ambivalence: Studying Social Media Visuality by Way of Aggregated Autoethnography

Visuality is central in social media experiences, but complex to research. In this paper, we introduce aggregated autoethnography for nuanced analysis of socially mediated visual practices. The approach starts from guided autoethnographies which help to empower participants to explore their own experiences and build thick descriptions, and moves through multiple levels of aggregation, integration and synthesis (from individual autoethnographies to national datasets of coded snippets, to datasets specific to arguments emerging out of multinational patterns). The aggregated autoethnography approach makes unexpected topics accessible; offers dynamic, rather than static insight; makes visible that which is routine and tacit, as well as that which is experienced as ambivalent. Further, aggregation allows synthesis of multiple perspectives, revealing patterns across contexts that are otherwise difficult to detect. The approach detailed here is used to move back and forth between the singular pieces of visual content and the flows they are part of; to remain loyal to the situational perspective that the visual communication becomes meaningful in; to capture relevant artifacts as well as people's practices; and to be mindful of the affective, embodied and material aspects of ways of seeing with social media.Visualität ist im alltäglichen Gebrauch sozialer Medien von zentraler Bedeutung, stellt aber für Forscher*innen eine komplexe Herausforderung dar. In diesem Beitrag wird die aggregierte Autoethnografie vorgestellt, ein Ansatz, durch den eine nuancierte Analyse von mediatisierten visuellen Praktiken ermöglicht wird. Der erste Schritt sind angeleitete Autoethnografien, hier lernen Teilnehmende, ihre eigenen Erfahrungen zu erforschen und dichte Beschreibungen zu erstellen. Anschließend werden mehrere Ebenen der Aggregation, Integration und Synthese durchlaufen (von individuellen Autoethnografien über nationale Datensätze mit kodierten Ausschnitten bis hin zu internationalen muster- und argumentspezifischen Datensätzen). Aggregierte Autoethnografien erlauben den Zugang zu unerwarteten Themen; es werden dynamische statt statischer Einblicke gegeben und sichtbar gemacht, was routinemäßig und implizit geschieht bzw. was als ambivalent erlebt wird. Darüber hinaus führt die Aggregation zur Synthese mehrerer Perspektiven, wodurch kontextübergreifende Muster aufgedeckt werden können, die sonst nur schwer zu erkennen sind. Mit dem beschriebenen Ansatz bewegen sich Forschende hin und her zwischen einzelnen Bildern und den Feeds, zu denen sie gehören. Sie bleiben der situativen Perspektive treu, in der die visuelle Kommunikation jeweils bedeutsam wird, relevante Artefakte und darauf bezogene Praktiken werden gleichzeitig erfasst. Zudem können so auch affektive, verkörperte und materielle Aspekte der Art und Weise, wie Menschen soziale Medien wahrnehmen, in den Blick genommen werden

Digital methods for ethnography: analytical concepts for ethnographers exploring social media environments

The aim of this article is to introduce some analytical concepts suitable for ethnographers dealing with social media environments. As a result of the growth of social media, the Internet structure has become a very complex, fluid, and fragmented space. Within this space, it is not always possible to consider the 'classical' online community as the privileged field site for the ethnographer, in which s/he immerses him/herself. Differently, taking inspiration from some methodological principles of the Digital Methods paradigm, I suggest that the main task for the ethnographer moving across social media environments should not be exclusively that of identifying an online community to delve into but of mapping the practices through which Internet users and digital devices structure social formations around a focal object (e.g., a brand). In order to support the ethnographer in the mapping of social formations within social media environments, I propose five analytical concepts: community, public, crowd, self-presentation as a tool, and user as a device

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Doing ethnographic research in the digital age

This working paper introduces key issues and challenges for ethnographic research of digitally saturated social environments, online social contexts, or digitally-mediated phenomena. It focuses on empirical approaches used by ethnographers and sociologists studying digital culture. In the context of digital social research, this may involve observing or collecting actual behaviors and actions in social networking platforms or studying use and interactions with and around digital devices, technologies, and media in naturalistic environments. It might also involve recording and observing in contrived settings, like workshops, focus groups, experiments, or interviews. The target of one’s study could include people in their physical forms or just data produced through human behaviors, movements, or flows of information. The study might seem small scale, whereby one is looking at a single case, instance, individual or small group, or largescale, when exploring patterns in aggregated datasets, analyzing upswells or shifts of interest in events or crisis, examining how ideas flow or emerge through various groups, platforms, or networks. With such a broad range of topics, approaches, choices, there will obviously be different theories, concepts, methods, ethics, and best practices. This paper provides a good starting point. It is a variation of a chapter for a forthcoming Handbook of Qualitative Research. Update: as of 2022, the Handbook has not yet been published

Doing ethnographic research in the digital age

This working paper introduces key issues and challenges for ethnographic research of digitally saturated social environments, online social contexts, or digitally-mediated phenomena. It focuses on empirical approaches used by ethnographers and sociologists studying digital culture. In the context of digital social research, this may involve observing or collecting actual behaviors and actions in social networking platforms or studying use and interactions with and around digital devices, technologies, and media in naturalistic environments. It might also involve recording and observing in contrived settings, like workshops, focus groups, experiments, or interviews. The target of one’s study could include people in their physical forms or just data produced through human behaviors, movements, or flows of information. The study might seem small scale, whereby one is looking at a single case, instance, individual or small group, or largescale, when exploring patterns in aggregated datasets, analyzing upswells or shifts of interest in events or crisis, examining how ideas flow or emerge through various groups, platforms, or networks. With such a broad range of topics, approaches, choices, there will obviously be different theories, concepts, methods, ethics, and best practices. This paper provides a good starting point. It is a variation of a chapter for a forthcoming Handbook of Qualitative Research. Update: as of 2022, the Handbook has not yet been published.</p