In the course of my PhD involving, qualitative interviews examining cross-cultural marriage between white Australians and Javanese, a number of methodological dilemmas emerged which challenged traditional research boundaries of geography, culture and communication.  In the contemporary context of research, digital technology is one method or tool which comes into its own, however also brings with it a range of ethical and other dilemmas.

To overcome the geographical barriers, the study utilised digital technology to advertise, recruit and conduct interviews.  Advertising utilised email, Facebook groups and other internet-based fora.  Recruitment processes were facilitated by email, text messaging and even the occasional telephone call.  Interviews were conducted in person, by telephone and using video platforms.  The digital space has the potential to both conceal and create a number of ethical dilemmas in relation to relational ethics, participant identification, confidentiality and the ability to verify identities.  It can also create practical, operational difficulties, particularly when the technology is unreliable.

Cultural and communiaction issues, such as language barries and shared language and understanding of culture, are comparable to those which emerge during in-person research, but these can be amplified by the digital approach, particularly when the technology is unreliable or fails.

This paper will summarise the methodological dilemmas encountered in my study, particularly those relating to digital ethics, and provide some proposed solutions.