Social, Behavioral Scientists Eligible to Apply for NSF S-STEM Grants
Solicitations are now being sought for the National Science Foundation’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program, and in an unheralded […]
Collecting Social Media Data for Research
How can researchers use social media data in their research? The digitalization of social life offers researchers an unprecedented world of data with which to study human life and social systems. However, accessing this data has become increasingly difficult. Jason Radford here is to help you figure out what approach is right for you.
Hate Speech on Social Media Undermines Important UN Declarations
Evidence suggests that one effect of the growing phenomenon of online hate speech is that it fosters varied forms of inequalities (e.g. class, race, gender, and place of origin) and, consequently, also (in)directly undermines important United Nations declarations promoting human rights.
Here Is the Science Behind Scheduling Social Media
Bringing science to science communications: Social media post scheduling long has been an art, not a science. A new study reveals the impact of time of day, targeted content advertising, and content type on link clicks and how these variables interact.
Social Media in Brazil: Distilling Racism Against Black Women
Rather than a ‘racial democracy,’ racism and prejudice against black people and women in particular, remains strong in the minds of many Brazilians. Using his policy brief as ammunition, Dr. Luiz Valerio argues that social media platforms play an important role in the dissemination and reinforcement of such ideologies and offers recommendations that should not be overlooked.
How Social Media Was Cited in Impact Case Studies?
In their previous Impact Blog post, Katy Jordan and Mark Carrigan considered whether institutions have invested too much hope in social media as a solution to the problem of demonstrating research impact. Here they report on research analyzing how social media was cited in impact case studies submitted to the UK’s REF 2014.
Social Media Used in Role its Not Equipped For
In a rapidly changing higher education landscape, where the meaning of “impact” are continually developing, benefits of social media seems obvious. Increasing numbers of institutions are encouraging researchers to take up social media to communicate to wider society. However, as Katy Jordan and Mark Carrigan explain, the possibilities social media offers may lead to foreseen problems.
Bev Skeggs on Social Media Siloing
“Most people,” explains Goldsmiths sociologist Bev Skeggs in this Social Science Space podcast, “think they’re using Facebook to communicate with friends. Basically they’re using it to reveal how much they can be sold for, now and in the future, and how much their friends can be sold for.”
Little Blue Birds of a (Disciplinary) Feather Flock Together
The success of academic research in reaching out beyond its own scientific community is a perennial concern, even more so following the rapid adoption of social media and the ability to easily transmit information to potentially millions of people. But is increased social media attention really indicative of “broader impact”? A new study suggests social media does not broaden scientific communication, but rather replicates and perpetuates pre-established disciplinary boundaries.
