Roxy is designed to facilitate observational web research with the full informed consent of participants. Roxy is software that runs on a web server. We are in the process of developing Roxy as a service for researchers, and Roxy is being prepared for an eventual open source release.

Research participants do not need to install any software on their computer to take part in a Roxy-based study because Roxy runs on a web server, not researchers' or participants' personal computers. Participants just need to configure their web browser(s) to connect to the researcher's Roxy server. Roxy works for participants with any web browser that accepts proxy settings, such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Opera.

What data can Roxy gather?

Roxy can gather the URL, referrer, time and date, and full HTML source code of pages that are logged. If certain types of data are not needed for the project they can be disabled to decrease server load.

Announcement list

If you want to be notified of Roxy's release and key developments please fill out this form. Your will receive a confirmation email.

Name: E-mail:

How does Roxy protect participant privacy and support informed consent?

  • Whenever a participant's web browser is inactive for 30 minutes or more Roxy prompts them to choose a session type, either regular (logged) or private.
  • Roxy allows participants to prevent Roxy from logging specific pages or websites.
  • Roxy provides participants a mechanism to review their browsing history and remove information after-the-fact.
  • Roxy includes a system-wide blacklist that allows researchers to proactively block irrelevant sites using existing blacklists and site categories. For example, researchers could choose to block Roxy from logging adult sites, so even if participants didn't use any of the privacy options available to them no information would be logged from such sites.
  • Roxy does not attempt to log any encrypted (HTTPS) content.

What kind of software is Roxy?

Roxy runs on a web server which means to run Roxy yourself you would need a dedicated host. Because this is not something that most social scientists want to manage themselves, we are planning to offer Roxy as a service, in addition to an open source DIY version.

Questions

Please email Ericka Menchen-Trevino with any questions: emt@northwestern.edu