Introduction to Social Science Computing (SSC) Fall 2024 Lecture Notes PDF

Faculty of Economics and Political Science The Department of Socio- Applications of Social Science computing Computing in Modern Information Societies 1 Lecture 1: Introduction to Social Science Computing (SSC) 1  Faculty of Economics and Polit...

Faculty of Economics and Political Science The Department of Socio- Applications of Social Science computing Computing in Modern Information Societies 1 Lecture 1: Introduction to Social Science Computing (SSC) 1  Faculty of Economics and Political Science Economics Statistics Political Science Socio-computing Public Administration 2  Applications of Social Science Computing in Modern Information Societies 1 Social Informat Science ion Computi Societies ng 3  What does SSC mean to you?? Social Computing Science 4  Social sciences Social sciences are concerned with studying the societies, the individual behaviour, and the interactions between the individuals in these societies. Example of social sciences are: Economics History Political science 5 Sociology  Computational science Computational is a methodology that allows the study of various phenomena, by application of computational and numerical techniques to solve large and complex problems. 6  Computational science Computational science builds models (a representation of system using general rules and concepts) that allow us to better understand, make predictions of the future of the phenomena to be ready for any unexpected changes that may occur. 7  Computational science Computational science is not computer science. Computer science is a branch of science that includes all aspects of a computer system including computer software and hardware. Computational science is about using the applications of computers to 8 advance science, and model and Social Sciences Computing (SSC) chemistr y Biolog physi Logic y cs Statistic s Natura l Mathemati Formal Scienc cs es Political Science Science s History Economi Computer cs Science Computatio Social Sociolog nal y SSC Scienc Science es Psycholog y SSC is an interdisciplinary field at the 9 intersection of the social sciences and Types of 1- Conceptual models: model A conceptual model is a representation of a system through a set of concepts that help people know, understand, or simulate a subject the model represents 10 Types of 1- Conceptual models: model Heat from the Sun causes water on Earth (in oceans, lakes etc) to evaporate (turn from liquid into gas) and rise into the sky. This water vapor collects in the sky in the form of clouds. Water falls from the sky in the form of rain, snow 11 etc, this process is called precipitation.  Exercise Develop conceptual model to summarize the phases of human life. 12 Types of models: 2- Mathematical model It is a description of a system using mathematical concepts and language. 13 Types of models: model 3-Physical It is a smaller or larger physical copy of an object. You can touch and see the object that might be small (an atom) or large (Solar System). 14 Types of models: 4- Computational model It is the usage of computer applications to advance science through modeling and simulating the real world. 15 Social Sciences Computing: New computational models Social Social Management Social Networks Information data Simulation Analysis System( MIS) science (SNA) 16  Why do we need computational science to study social science? 17  Complexity of social phenomena Social phenomena are complex ones. They are difficult to predict and treat using the traditional methods of analysis. 18  Complexity of social phenomena Computational social science enables us to handle complex phenomena and to invent models that reflect the diversity and complexity of the society. 19  “Applications of Social Science Computing in Modern Information Societies (1)” Social Science Computin g Informatio n Societies 20 21 22  Data represents unorganized and unprocessed facts. Information can be considered as an aggregation of data (processed data) which makes decision making easier. It is data that has been processed in such a way to be meaningful to the person who receives it. 23  Knowledge mean human understanding of a subject matter that has been learned through good study and experience. i.e., Knowledge is usually based on thinking, learning and good understanding of the problem area. Wisdom: Selecting the right content for the right purpose and the right time 24to apply the information. Example: Data: men shoe sizes : “ 40,41,42,42,41,40,44,45,44,46,41,46, ………”. Information: most men from 42 to 44. Knowledge: when I open a shoe shop, I will order for sizes 42-44 more than others. Wisdom: Knowing the time where the former information will not valid any more. 25  “Applications of Social Science Computing in Modern Information Societies (1)” Social Science Computin g Informatio n Societies 26  Societies growth 21st century Knowledge society Digital society 27 28 The information society: A concept that responds to the expansion of information and the emergence of a networks. The information society “post-industrial society” is one in which information is the defining feature, unlike the industrial society where machines and power(fuels) were defining elements. The information (and not material wealth) is 29 the driving force behind its development. The information society: In Information society the creation, distribution, and manipulation of information has become the most significant economic and cultural activity. It mainly depends on the usage of Information and communication technology (ICT) ICT is a broader term for Information Technology (IT), which refers to all communication technologies, including the internet, networks, cell phones, computers, software, video-conferencing, and other 30 31 The information society: Both developed and developing countries are concerned with using information and communication technology to improve their relative competitiveness in the global society. To live in an information society ,we need not only to be able to send and receive information but most importantly to be able to understand the methods by which information flow and the impact of information. Expanding the understanding of the information and turning it into knowledge would lead to the up rise of a knowledge society. 32 The knowledge society: Knowledge society is the new stage of socio-economic development of societies. The main feature of knowledge society is the transfer of knowledge first, not information. In order for a society to move to knowledge society phase they have to go through information society phase first. 33 The knowledge society: People in the knowledge society need not only to perceive (realise, handle) information, but also to critically analyse it and to apply it. While information can generally be reproduced for minimal costs, knowledge reproduction requires trainings and other more costly forms of transmission. 34 The knowledge society: The digital divide is an obstacle to achievement of genuine knowledge societies. The digital divide is the unequal access to any kind of digital technologies such as the internet access, owning computers and smart devices, knowing how to use these devices…etc. This creates a division and inequality around access to information and resources 35  Skills needed for an information society to transform into a knowledge society 36 For the transition to knowledge society, people are classified into three groups: Lower class: individuals The elite : Middle with specific Includes class: narrow people, who includes knowledge are mainly people doing and minimal engaged in physical work training analytics and and make therefore creative work decisions capable of and can work within the engaging in in the framework of routine conditions of rules technical uncertainty. established work and by others. repeating 37 standard  Main impact of Information availability on societies 38 Main impact of Information availability on societies 1-The technological innovations: The huge volume of technological innovations lead to a reconstitution of the new society “information society”. (cable and satellite television, computer- to computer communications, new office technologies, …..). 39 Main impact of Information availability on societies 2-The growth in economic worth of informational activities: The greater part of economic activity is taken up by information activity rather than agriculture or industrial manufacture. (informational activities such as collecting data, managing social networking sites “ 40 Main impact of Information availability on societies 3- Occupational renovation: The majority of occupation is found in information work, and there is a decline of manual work where the raw material of non-manual labour is information. (Information workers are individuals who work with information instead the physical objects of labour. Examples are programmers, software designers and software publishers). 41 Main impact of Information availability on societies 4- Spatial redefinition: Using networks to connect locations and in consequence have a vast effect on managing time and space. For example, you can work from home in a way that saves the time taken to reach your work, go back home from work. You also save the space taken by your office 42 Main impact of Information availability on societies 5- Cultural challenges: The use of the different new media and availability of massive informational content affecting morals, taste, and decisions. e.g. How you obtain services, from banking and shopping to entertainment, games, and public services. 43 How Information societies differ from previous societies ? Technological – ( Networks versus Roads in industrial). Economic – The information sector is the most important sector. Spatial – Change the meaning of time and space. 44 Applications of information societies: E-Commerce E-Government E-Politics E-Learning E-Health E-Banking 45  Thanks 46