Includes bibliographical references and index.

This SAGE methods case outlines the experiences of designing qualitative research of two digitally mediated social environments. First, open content production on Wikipedia which is based on knowledge sharing and dissemination. Second, commercial software production for Google (Alphabet Inc.) protected by non-disclosure agreements and trade secrets. Digital affordances played an important role in framing the initial research questions. Yet, the initial research design changed in both of these cases due to the accumulated knowledge about the subject and specific challenges that arose during the research process. A broad understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of different qualitative methodologies helped maintain a flexible and emergent research design. Ethical decision-making was an important factor in both cases.

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