Participant-Mediated Collection of Sensitive Digital Trace Data: The CANDOR Research Infrastructure

The research outlines a novel approach, 'participant-mediated data donation,' for collecting sensitive digital trace data. This method allows individuals to contribute selected portions of their digital histories, addressing limitations of traditional data collection, such as declining platform API access and reliance on publicly observable data. It enables the collection of longitudinal, non-public, multi-platform data, offering richer insights but also introducing methodological challenges related to participant control and data minimization.

This development is strategically important as it proposes a new paradigm for data collection, circumventing existing technological and access limitations. It unlocks opportunities for deeper insights into behavior by accessing previously unavailable or difficult-to-obtain data, which can inform product development, policy, and societal understanding.

Digital trace data offers detailed behavioral measures in everyday environments.

Forward consideration, not a verified fact.