860-0026-00L  Data Practices

SemesterHerbstsemester 2022
DozierendeM. Leese
Periodizitätjährlich wiederkehrende Veranstaltung
LehrspracheEnglisch
KommentarNumber of participants limited to 20.
Priority for Science, Technology, and Policy MSc and PhD students.


KurzbeschreibungThe aim of this course is to establish an understanding of data as embedded in social contexts. Studying data from a social scientific perspective is necessary to account for these influences and analyze the ways in which data practices shape the ways in which data allow us to see and modify the world.
LernzielAt the end of the term ,students will be able to:
 reflect concepts and theories of data practices and situate them within wider social science contexts
 identify key actors, sites, and domain contexts of data practices
 choose appropriate ways and methods to study data practices empirically
InhaltThe aim of this course is to establish an understanding of data as embedded in social contexts. Data do not
exist independently of the ideas, instruments, contexts and rationales used to generate, process, and analyze
them. They are not neutral representations of external realities, but they are imbued with political and
economic interests, cultural norms and tacit assumptions. Studying data from a social scientific perspective,
it is thus necessary to account for these influences and analyze the ways in which data practices shape the
ways in which data allow us to see and modify the world.
SkriptCourse materials are provided on Moodle.
Voraussetzungen / BesonderesThe quality of your experience in this course depends on your preparation and active participation. Students
will be expected to read the required literature, subject it to critical examination, and discuss it in class.
You will be required to prepare a short preparation assignment for one or two sessions (depending on the
overall number of students enrolled in the course), consisting of the preparation of three discussion
questions for the session’s readings.
Due to the consecutive building blocks that we address throughout the semester, in the best scenario you
should not miss any of the sessions. In case you should be unable to attend the seminar, please inform the
course organizer by e-mail in advance (Link).