What is Computational Social Science?

Computational social science (CSS) is an interdisciplinary scientific field that studies human behavior and social systems using computational methods and research practices. This includes developing and testing theoretical assumptions but also the systematic description of the behavior of people, organizations, institutions and complex socio-technical systems. A defining characteristic of CSS is the close interdisciplinary cooperation between social sciences, computer science, and natural sciences. Different research fields complement each other in the investigation of social phenomena and processes through their different perspectives and core competencies. The aim of CSS is both to understand new social phenomena triggered by digitization and to develop new perspectives on traditional research interests in social science. Both endeavors are significantly shaped by the use of new data sets and analytical methods made available through digital technology.

In this episode, we will be laying some foundations for using CSS to better understand the impact of digital media on politics and society. We will discuss what the term computational social science means, what makes it different from other approaches in the social sciences, and try our hands at a definition.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Introduction
00:02:31 - The promise of computational social science
00:12:27 - Computational social science: A definition
00:21:20 - Conclusion

Script to episode with references and further readings:

http://digitalmedia.andreasjungherr.de/css.html