The term „computational social science“ belongs to the category of Big Data and Smart Data, as well as the Digital Society. It concerns social scientists using computers and modern software to gain a better understanding of social phenomena.
Instead of just using classic surveys or interviews, researchers today are increasingly working with huge datasets, which are generated by social networks, for example. With the help of special programmes, these data are analysed and patterns or connections are recognised that would often have remained hidden with traditional methods.
A vivid example: Researchers could analyse how opinions on certain topics, such as climate change, spread on social media. To do this, they collect public posts from platforms like Twitter, process them on a computer and identify trends or influencing factors that could be important for politics and businesses.
Computer-assisted social science thus helps to meaningfully interpret large and complex datasets in order to make informed decisions. It combines technical expertise with social science questions, thus supporting a better understanding of our digital society.
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