The submission addresses the questions of the role of technology in modern parenting and its implications for the research community. Specifically, the author will discuss the nature of the digital open data (DOD), its value for developmental science and particular research methods that can be applied to such data analysis focusing on the qualitative analysis of the DOD. The author will argue that developmental science would particularly benefit from conducting research with the DOD. Social networking groups, thematic websites, shared online platforms contain an enormous amount of data that can be used for theoretical advancement of the field and developing more effective social policies. Modern day community of online internet users is often referred to as Web 2.0, where users are actively creating and sharing the content rather than simply consuming it. A lot can be gained from addressing questions of how parents behave in the digital space, what they discuss on online social media and forums, and more generally what they do in a digital space. Traditional research methods adjusted for digital space become powerful cutting-edge techniques, where researchers are observing participants in their natural environment, with the only exception of this environment being a digital one.

Studying Development in the Generation Web 2.0: Qualitative Research of the Digital Open Data