6 ECTS credits
180 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1021444CER for all students in the 2nd semester
at
a (C) Bachelor - specialised level.
- Semester
- 2nd semester
- Enrollment based on exam contract
- Possible
- Grading method
- Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
- Can retake in second session
- Yes
- Enrollment Requirements
- Students who want to enroll for this course, must have passed for ‘Introduction to SPC Methodology’ and must have obtained at least 30 ECTS-credits on bachelor level
- Taught in
- English
- Partnership Agreement
- Under interuniversity agreement for degree program
- Faculty
- Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
- Department
- Communication Sciences
- External partners
- Universiteit Gent
- Educational team
- Ralf DE WOLF
Jeroen Stragier
Maria Vanden Abeele
(course titular)
- Activities and contact hours
-
45 contact hours Lecture
135 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
- Course Content
The processes of datafication that characterize our contemporary information society have led to an exponential growth in digital data. This provides challenges and opportunities for studying media and communication. In this course, we consider digital methods as those methodologies and methods that allow us to gain an understanding of the social world -both online and offline- by making use of data created by our interactions with digital technologies. The central aim of this course is to provide:
- a theoretical, conceptual and critical understanding of digital data and the knowledge they can generate,
- an understanding of how and when to apply methods and techniques related to digital data in a social scientific context,
- a select number of tools and skills to collect, analyze and visualize digital data.
- Additional info
Course material
A list of reading materials accessible via the university library - these will be made available on the electronic platform Ufora.
PowerPoint-slides, notes, and documentation for practical exercises. All material will be offered online through the digital learning platform Ufora.
Additional info
The course covers the following topics:
Part 1:
- Introduction to Digital Methods
- Social research in the digital age
- Big data & ethics
- Observing online behavior vs. Observing behavior online
Part 2:
Introduction to quantitative digital methods for data collection and data analysis.
Typical examples are APIs and scraping; digital trace data & log data analysis; social network analysis, automated text analysis; predictive modeling: regression and classification.
Part 3:
Introduction to qualitative digital methods for data collection and data analysis.
Typical examples are the walk-through method; digital ethnography; scrolling back; mobile instant messaging interviews.
Teaching methods
This course combines different teaching methods: Lectures, practicals, self-study and online discussion.
Support through Ufora (slides, lectures schemes, additional documentation, links, FAQ, email).
References
- Book: Salganik, Matthew J. 2017. Bit by Bit: Social Research in the Digital Age. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
- Ackland, R. (2013). Web social science: Concepts, data and tools for social scientists in the digital age. London: Sage.
- Kitchin, R. (2014). The data revolution: Big data, open data, data infrastructures and their consequences. London: Sage.
- Rogers, R. (2013). Digital methods. Cambridge, MA: MIT press.
- Learning Outcomes
-
General competences
After successful completion of this course:
- students can name, describe, explain, and evaluate important developments in the field of digital methods and internet research.
- students are able to (describe how and when to) apply digital methods and techniques in communication scientific research.
- students are able to recognize and reflect critically on ethical and political aspects concerning the usage and the implications of digital methods.
- Grading
-
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
- Written Exam
with a relative weight of 75
which comprises 75% of the final mark.
- Written Assignment
with a relative weight of 25
which comprises 25% of the final mark.
- Additional info regarding evaluation
The end-of-term evaluation consists of two parts.
- Part 1 (75%). A written exam consisting of multiple questions that assess whether students have acquired knowledge, understanding, skills and critical reflection in relation to digital methods.
- Part 2 (25%). A written assignment.
Due to COVID19 and the measures to prevent further dissemination, modified evaluation forms can be rolled out if deemed necessary. Deviations will be communicated via Ufora.
- Allowed unsatisfactory mark
- The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.
Academic context
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Communication Studies
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Political Sciences
Bachelor of Social Sciences: Sociology