Important notice: research using public YouTube live-chat messages
Choir of the Earth is delighted to be working with the University of Greenwich on a study exploring the social connections formed within the Choir and within online choirs more generally.
The study is being led by social psychologists Dr Martha Newson and Dr Linus Peitz, whose areas of academic interest include social cohesion and group identities. It explores how members of an online choir experience connection, belonging and shared musical moments, and how activities such as rehearsals, recordings, premieres and live events shape the experience of being part of the Choir.
The research has several stages. Choir of the Earth members have already contributed through focus groups and surveys, with further research planned as the study continues.
Choir of the Earth believes this is an important opportunity to understand more about how and why an online choir can create meaningful social connections. The findings may also help the Choir to identify ways to develop and strengthen its community in the future.
YouTube live-chat study
As another part of the wider study, the University of Greenwich research team will analyse historical messages posted in the live chats of selected public Choir of the Earth YouTube course launches and concert performances.
This element of the study will use only live-chat replay data that is already publicly accessible on YouTube, namely from videos within the following playlists:
The researchers will look at how people express encouragement, shared emotion, belonging, connection and group identity during these events.
No action is required from choir members or other viewers.
However, anyone who has posted messages in these public live chats may ask the research team to exclude identifiable messages associated with their YouTube username or display name from the research dataset, where this remains feasible.
Anyone wishing to make this request should follow the instructions in the Participant Information Sheet and contact the University of Greenwich research team by 22:00 UTC+1 (UK time) on Sunday 13 September 2026.
The Participant Information Sheet also contains full details about the study, how the data will be used, the steps the researchers will take to protect privacy, and the limits on withdrawing messages once the data has been anonymised or included in the analysis.