Internet-Based Socio-Political Data: Research Designs and Methods

Short Bio Laura Sudulich is a Research Fellow at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. She holds a PhD in Political Science from Trinity College Dublin. She worked, from 2009 to 2012, at the University of Amsterdam as a lecturer and post-doctoral fellow, and she was awarded a Max Weber postdoctoral fellowship at the European University Institute in 2012-2013. She is the PI of the project “Political Knowledge and the Web” – funded by the Wiener-Anspach Foundation - in collaboration with the Oxford Internet Institute. Her research interests include new media and public opinion, electoral behaviour, campaigns and Voting Advice Applications. More info at: www.laurasudulich.eu Prerequisite knowledge No prior specific knowledge is requested. However, a good understanding of basic elements of research design in social sciences would be helpful. Participants can make the most out of this course by bringing their own research ideas, proposals, and projects, no matter if only at a very initial stage. Short course outline This course provides an introduction to digital social science research. First, it addresses challenges and opportunities researchers face when studying Internet based or internet-related social phenomena. Secondly, the course focuses on methodological and design issues related to the particular structure of online-based data. Thirdly, it reviews possibilities for experimental research on the web. Finally, it explores possibilities for combining online-based data with secondary sources. The course is targeted at scholars that approach digital social science research for the first time – no matter at what stage of their careers – and to PhD students focusing their dissertation on online-based phenomena. It provides the theoretical knowledge to pose research questions, formulate working hypotheses and select appropriate data. Various forms of online data collection will be reviewed and an array of suitable analytical techniques will be outlined. Examples, readings and digital materials are selected from different disciplines within the social sciences.