Big Data in Society
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
More and more data is being collected about us and our activities. Our social media interactions, online search and shopping behaviour, but also offline location tracking and sensor and surveillance networks are all generating large, often real-time data sets. Potentially, these could help answer important questions facing society today. However, processing big data techniques for social problems in a responsible way within ethical boundaries represents an interdisciplinary challenge at the interface of social and computer science.
WHO SHOULD JOIN?
Students and professionals in the field of Social Sciences, Computer and Information Science and Humanities. Since some understanding of social scientific approaches is required, you should previously have studied research methods and methodology. If you have doubts about your eligibility for the course, please let us know. Our courses are multi-disciplinary and therefore are open to students and professionals with a wide variety of backgrounds.
COURSE CONTENT
We will work in small groups to address specific issues and do some hands-on analysis. The course is organized around two modules in which big data techniques are used to answer social questions or solve social problems:
In the module big data, you will look at the way such data are shaping society. For example, recommendation algorithms are determining more and more which songs you listen to, which books you buy, and what news you watch. These recommendations are based on your past behavior but also on data about your friends and other users. These algorithms can help you discover new interests and find items form the ‘long tail’, but they can also cause you to become stuck in a filter bubble of similar items. In this module we will look at existing algorithms and write your own algorithm based on publicly available shopping or review data. Other topics covered are introduction in R, machine learning, and automated text analysis.
In the module Digital society, you will look at publicly available data such as news items, social media messages and online reviews. Zooming in on a specific theme that has sparked public contention, for example health care or sustainability issues, you will use network analysis and other methods to further investigate the data from the first module. Zooming out, we will discuss the implications of big data on society. Specifically, we will discuss CSR, ethics and methdological challenges.
EXCURSIONS
Visits to an organization employing data analytical techniques in a social context.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course, you:
- Understand and can use big data.
- Are able to conceptualize the influences and theories surrounding big data.
- Learned techniques to analyse various kinds of big data.
- Can trace the impact of big data on social agents.
- Understand the core legal and ethical issues of using such data for research.
- Can work with fellow students from different backgrounds.
COURSE READINGS
Reading materials to be announced.
Location | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
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Period |
6 Jul 2019
- 20 Jul 2019
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Levels |
Bachelor / Undergraduate
Master / Graduate PhD Professional |
Credits | 3.0 ECTS |
Program fee | 1,150 EUR |
Accommodation fee | 425 EUR |
Extra information about the
fee: There are several accommodation options, ranging in price from €425 to €550. There are discounts: €150 discount for early birds (register before 15 March, 23.59 CET). €250 discount for all students from partner universities. €200 discount when you apply for 2 courses, €300 when you apply for 3 courses. €450 discount if you are currently a student at VU Amsterdam. Visit our website to see all housing options and for a list of partner universities. |
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Application deadline | 1 May 2019 |
Entry
requirements: At least enrolled in 2nd year of Bachelor studies. |
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Contact information:
Mail: amsterdamsummerschool@vu.nl
Skype: VU Amsterdam Summer School - by appointment, email first Telephone: +31 20 59 86429 |