Information for participantsThis research project focuses on websites that enable users to plan and prepare their online communication after their death. Through interviews I aim to have an open and casual conversation in order to learn from users about their experience, emotions and thoughts when using these websites. There are no right or wrong answers.
My commitment to you As a PhD candidate, I am committed to LSE’s ethical guidelines. This means that:
You may download and read the Consent form for participating in my project, where these commitments are detailed. How to prepare for the interview? The interview will focus on your own experience as a user of a website that allows you to plan online digital communication after death. While I will make every effort to make our conversation casual and comfortable, it is possible that it will trigger emotional reactions related to particular features of the website or to the reasons that brought you to sign up to it in the first place. One way to avoid such emotions becoming too overwhelming is to make sure you have someone to talk to in case your feel sadness or distress following the interview. This someone can either be a close friend or family member, a therapist or other professional you might be seeing or any other person you feel comfortable with and trust to support you in such moments. If possible, why not schedule an enjoyable social activity following the interview? How to contact me If at any point you wish to contact me for further information, questions or concerns related to your participation in the project, you can reach me through: My email address: [email protected] My phone number at the Media Department at the LSE: 020 7955 6490 (if I'm not it you may leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible) Disclaimer * Individuals under the age of 20 are not eligible to participate in this research project. ** If at any point during the interview I have reasons to believe that you are in danger of harming yourself, it is my ethical obligation to help you by contacting the NHS and releasing any information that could protect you. |
About my projectThis site is part of my PhD research project at LSE. My research looks at websites that enable users to plan and prepare their online presence after their death. I am interested in interviewing users of such websites and hearing about their thoughts and experiences. My project also includes interviews with designers and analysis of the platforms themselves.
About me Hello and thank you for your interest in my PhD project. My name is Paula Kiel. I am a PhD candidate at the London School of Economics and Political Science in the Department of Media and Communications. Click here to view my personal page on the university website.
I am interested in digital media and in the life cycles of communication technologies. I look at how digital technologies take particular forms, and how they are used at different stages of our lives. In my current project, I am particularly interested in the question of digital legacies, and how people manage their digital life after death. I currently live in London. Contact me |