Data Practices

Abstract

The aim of this course is to establish an understanding of data as embedded in social contexts. Studying data from a social scientific perspective is necessary to account for these influences and analyze the ways in which data practices shape the ways in which data allow us to see and modify the world.

Objective

At the end of the term ,students will be able to:  reflect concepts and theories of data practices and situate them within wider social science contexts  identify key actors, sites, and domain contexts of data practices  choose appropriate ways and methods to study data practices empirically

Content

The aim of this course is to establish an understanding of data as embedded in social contexts. Data do not exist independently of the ideas, instruments, contexts and rationales used to generate, process, and analyze them. They are not neutral representations of external realities, but they are imbued with political and economic interests, cultural norms and tacit assumptions. Studying data from a social scientific perspective, it is thus necessary to account for these influences and analyze the ways in which data practices shape the ways in which data allow us to see and modify the world.

Resources