How to become a computational social scientist
Date:
16/04/2025
Organised by:
University of Manchester
Presenter:
Louise Capener, UK Data Service
Level:
Entry (no or almost no prior knowledge)
Contact:
Emma Green
emma.green-3@manchester.ac.uk
Venue: Online
Description:
Scientific research and teaching are increasingly influenced by computational tools, methods and paradigms. The social sciences are no different, with many new forms of social data only available or practical through computational means (Kitchen, 2014).
While social science research has always been marked by technological approaches to some degree, the field of computational social science involves the use of tools, data and methods that require a different skill set and mindset.
This free workshop is an introduction to computational social science. It offers attendees a chance to understand and discuss what computational social science is, what it is good for, how to become a computational social scientist, and the basic steps to follow in an ideal computational social science research project.
PLEASE NOTE: This session is focused on introducing people to the concepts of CSS. We will not be covering more advanced topics including the epistemological and theoretical challenges posed by CSS.
The workshop intersperses instruction with discussion and gives participants the chance to develop a research project idea through several steps. The workshop is suitable for absolute beginners and NO CODING SKILLS are required.
Kitchen, R. (2014). Big Data, new epistemologies and paradigm shifts. Big Data & Society, https://doi.org/10.1177/2053951714528481.
Level: Any level, from absolute beginner to statistics whiz
Experience/knowledge required: No specific knowledge required but it will make much more sense if you currently (or plan to) conduct social science research
Target audience: Social scientists who are interested in or confused by what computational and empirical social science is about, or who know they want to start doing more computational work but don’t know how to get started
We will be using Mentimeter to ask questions in this workshop so you may benefit from having a second device ready for this, such as a smartphone.
Cost:
Free
Website and registration:
Region:
Europe
Keywords:
Frameworks for Research and Research Designs, Data Collection, Data Quality and Data Management , Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis, Quantitative Data Handling and Data Analysis, Mixed Methods Data Handling and Data Analysis
Related publications and presentations from our eprints archive:
Frameworks for Research and Research Designs
Data Collection
Data Quality and Data Management
Qualitative Data Handling and Data Analysis
Quantitative Data Handling and Data Analysis
Mixed Methods Data Handling and Data Analysis