SOLID FIELDS, LIQUID META-FIELDS: WHAT OBJECTS, METHODS AND RELATIONS TO REALITY?

Abstract

This article shows how academic research approaches the subject of solid fields (stable and grounded digital environments) and liquid meta-fields (variable and contingent environment). Based on the analysis of 422 articles, this research presents an overview of data collection and analysis methods as well as their link with reality. This variety of methods recalls both: (a) omnipresence of conventional social science methods, (b) eclecticism thanks to the adoption of computational and digital methods, (c) enrichment of certain conventional methods by the need to contain the large size of big data.