Introduction to Computational Social Science

The world is becoming increasingly "digital," with economic, social, and political processes increasingly captured and managed digitally. International organizations such as the UN, the World Bank, and national governments are making open data available online. Thus, the study of contemporary processes requires the increasing use of a variety of digital data sources that provide unprecedentedly detailed insights into political, economic, and social arrangements. There are many challenges associated with these new data sources, and they require the adoption of new strategies in data processing and analysis, but to keep up with the pace of technological, social and political developments, sociologists need to acquire the necessary skills to use new data and data analysis techniques.

This course is a basic introduction to computational social science. It addresses the above aspects by offering not only a practical introduction to computational social science to social science students, but also to those interested in the topic itself. The course is an introduction that will allow students to understand the debates and research related to computational social science methods. Students will gain an understanding of what computational social science is and what its basic approaches are. How algorithms work, what data might be of interest to them, how to access and use that data. Also, students will be able to collaborate with computer scientists in projects where large digital data is collected and analysed.

Course Objective

The course is designed to introduce students to the key concepts of computational social science and to offer some first steps in Python programming. Specifically, the goal is to teach students the basics of computational approaches, algorithms, and data analytics, including using APIs to access Internet data such as Twitter data, etc., through specific interfaces, data processing and management, and data visualization and analysis to gain insights into contemporary political, social or economic processes and dynamics. This course is only an introductory course, but will allow students with further ambitions to begin their journey to becoming computational social scientists.

Course Structure

The course consists of 7 modules, 3 of which are presented as video lectures of up to 13 minutes duration, quizzes and self-study assignments. To progress to the next module, you must pass at least 80% of the tests and have four attempts to pass them. The course is designed for 6 weeks of study. The weekly load is 4-6 hours, including practical assignments.

You may take the course four times if you wish. At the end of the entire course you will receive an electronic certificate.


Course materials are posted on the Media School platform and will only be available to participants who have registered for the course. All courses created as part of the project are the property of IWPR CA and may be used for other projects, at the discretion of IWPR CA.

 

 
6 weeks
Register to start training
Already have an account?
Fill out a survey

What will you learn?

What is computational social science?
Algorithms and their significance in computational social science
What is big data and what types of analysis can be done with big digital data?
Why is visualization important in computational social science and how to properly visualize data?
What tools and platforms are available for data processing?
The importance of ethical principles in computational social science

Program

Instructors

Frequently asked questions

How to register for the course?
First you need to register on the site itself, then select the course that suits you from the “Courses” section and register for the course itself.
Will I receive a certificate after completing the course?
The certificate is received by those who have passed all the lessons within the course and passed the final test successfully (at least 80%).
What if I don’t pass the test?
After each module in the course there is an intermediate test and a general test at the end of the course. You are given 10 attempts to pass the test. If it fails from the first attempts, you can review the lesson and take the test again. After exhausting 10 attempts, the system will be blocked. You will need to register for the course again to complete it.
What to do if the site is down?
Write to us at the indicated contacts in the “Contacts” section or in social networks.
What should I do if my name on the certificate is different from the name in the passport?
When registering, initially enter your data correctly. If you have indicated other details, write to us. We will correct and send the certificate with the correct data.
Can I take several courses?
Yes. You can take several courses at once or in sequence.
How often are courses updated?
Courses that already exist are not updated. We add new courses after they are crated.
How to participate in your other events?
We conduct various training events for journalists and journalism students from Central Asian countries. You can track new events on our website or on pages on social networks and take part. Often you need to register or pass a competitive selection.
Can only residents of Central Asia take courses?
Online courses are available to absolutely everyone regardless of place of residence. Offline events take place in one of the CA countries.
I am not from the media sector, but I want to enroll in the course. Is it possible?
Yes, everyone can take online courses.
How long is the course?
The duration of each course is determined individually, depending on the content and complexity of the course. The average duration is from 6 to 8 weeks. During this period, you must complete all the lessons and pass the tests. If you didn’t finish on time, the system will be blocked. But you can overwrite and go through again.