Oxford Internet Institute

The vast quantities of heterogeneous data now available about people and their actions will revolutionise our understanding of human behaviour (Lazer et al, Science, 2009). These forms of data also challenge the underpinnings of modern mathematical and computational methods for the analysis of large-scale data. Together these two open problems motivate a new field: social data science. Here we propose a workshop that brings together experts in key relevant areas – the social sciences, the mathematical sciences, and computer science – to map out the foundations of social data science.

Social data science represents an exciting opportunity both for the Alan Turing Institute and for the UK science base more broadly. Until now, the field has been largely led by US researchers, under the auspices of computational social science. Given the large quantities of well-curated social data in the UK, we have a great opportunity to contribute to the leadership of this field. Building up social data science into a vibrant stream of data science research, which builds our understanding of human behaviour and informs interventions geared at changing it, will provide the Institute with a unique competitive advantage.

In order to pursue this goal, the workshop will focus on three key themes:

1. It will explore ways that large-scale data can be modeled to form our understanding of individual human behaviour, and identifying the novel mathematics and algorithms to do so;
2. Using and developing state-of-the-art quantitative methods, it will explore the complex relationship between large-scale social networks of influence & interaction, and behaviour;
3. It will identify new experimental methods and designs that can bring causal inference and inform interventions at scale in the setting of social data science.

This workshop is a part of workshops presented with the Alan Turing Institute.

Programme