Information about the research project “Masculinity: aiming to understand expressions of masculinity in gaming discourses”

Project purpose

In this project, I will explore how gaming relates to identity and masculinity, and I wish to focus attention on gamers and hear their stories. Since Discord has become a gathering place for gamers to discuss gaming-related topics, I want to further explore this arena.

My role will be to be the "fly on the wall," lurking and observing for about 6 months. I will not actively participate in the conversations myself. What I will observe includes discussions about identity and gaming, and how forms of rhetoric and techniques are used in these conversations.

I will examine two Discord servers, in addition to two Twitch channels in this study. The study is a doctoral project, which is part of the Understanding Masculinity in Gaming project at the University of Bergen. Information and quotes that are collected will be used in work related to the doctoral study and the Understanding Masculinity in Gaming project.

Who is responsible for the research project?

The Department of Information and Media Studies at the University of Bergen is responsible for the project.

Why are these Discord servers included in the study?

The Twitch channels "MrSavage" and "thomasPASTE" are part of the study. Therefore, the associated Discord servers are part of the project. Individuals who are participants in these Discord servers will thus be included in the study.

What does the project mean for the participants?

In the project, I will take screenshots and text copy of the chat. Names and profile pictures will be censored, to ensure anonymity. Quotes will not be reproduced in searchable form in publications. I will only use information that participants have made available on Discord.

The text copies and screenshots will be stored in a closed folder on my work account, which is protected by multi-factor authentication and access restrictions. No one other than myself, my supervisor, and co-supervisor will have access to these. Information will be treated confidentially and in accordance with data protection regulations. At the end of the project, which is planned for December 2026, all screenshots and text copies will be deleted.

If you wish for your comments to not be included in the project's analyses, that is perfectly fine. It will be possible to opt out as long as the project lasts. Please send me an e-mail (ida.rysjedal@uib.no), and I will ensure that your comments are excluded from the analyses in the project.

What gives us the right to process quotes from these Discord servers?

We process quotes because the research project is deemed to be in the public interest. However, it is possible to be excluded from the analyses if you do not wish to be included in the project.

On behalf of the University of Bergen, Sikt – Knowledge Sector's service provider, which is the public Norwegian agency that ensures that research data is processed in accordance with data protection legislation, have assessed that the processing of quotes and information in this project complies with data protection regulations.

Participants’ rights

If you can be identified in the data material, you have the right to:

• not be included in the project
• access information on whether any of your comments and posts are stored, and which ones
• request corrections to your comments and posts
• request deletion of your comments and posts
• contact the Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet) if you wish to file a complaint regarding the project's handling of your comments and posts

For questions about the study or to exercise the aforementioned rights, please contact:

• The University of Bergen, Project Manager Ida Martine Gard Rysjedal (ida.rysjedal@uib.no).
• Our Data Protection Officer: Janecke Helene Veim (personvernombud@uib.no).

For questions regarding the assessment of the project conducted by Sikt's privacy services, please contact:

• Privacy Services via e-mail (personverntjenester@sikt.no) or by phone: +47 73 98 40 40

Best regards,

Ida Martine Gard Rysjedal

(PhD Researcher)