Doing Digital Methods
27 June 2016, University of Amsterdam
Liliana Bounegru | lilianabounegru.org | @bb_liliana
Some Recent Highlights from
Winter and Summer Schools
Digital Methods Winter School 2016
Otherwise Engaged. Critical Analytics
and the New Meanings of Engagement
Online
How may online engagement be
understood?
How can engagement metrics be
repurposed for social and cultural research?
Digital Methods for
Number Critique
Which platform features and aspects of
use practices are extended and
reinterpreted through support app
ecologies?
II. App Ecologies
1. App-specific: Instagram (likes,
followers, tags, reposts, hashtags)
2. Cross-platform: Instagram, Twitter,
Facebook, Snapchat, Tinder
3. Feature/metrics-based: Followers,
likes, hashtags, subscribers
4. Alternative approach
Methodology
Get apps per keyword from App Annie.
Identify related apps Google Play Similar
Apps tool.
Digital Methods for Number Critique (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/
WinterSchool2016DigitalMethodsForNumberCritique
Instagram - Key Findings
Image editing
apps
Dating appsDating apps
Image
editing apps
Digital Methods for Number Critique (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/
WinterSchool2016DigitalMethodsForNumberCritique
Digital Methods for Number Critique (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/
WinterSchool2016DigitalMethodsForNumberCritique
A Critical Cartography of
the Mediterranean
Refugee Crisis in 2015
Method: Operationalizing critical cartography
Frame analysis of maps: Which places are included
on the map? Are the origins of refugees recognized in
the journalistic narrative or just the European
destination?
Layering and Heatmaps
Data collection 1:
Query design in
Google images:
[refugees routes]
[migrant routes]
Data collection 2:
Videos from Arabic
media
Zoom-in | zoom-out: From straight lines to
journeys.
Framing analysis: Context- what images go
with maps? Content- How do maps mean?
Mapping
Content analysis - image
coding
A Critical Cartography of the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis in 2015 (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/
Dmi/WinterSchool2016CommunicativeArchitectureOfTheMediteraneanRefugeeCrisis
Frame analysis
of maps
Which places are included on the map? | Are the
origins of refugees recognized in the journalistic
narrative? | Or, is it just the European destination
featured?
A Critical Cartography of the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis in 2015 (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/
Dmi/WinterSchool2016CommunicativeArchitectureOfTheMediteraneanRefugeeCrisis
“Migrant routes” - English.
A Critical Cartography of the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis in 2015 (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/
Dmi/WinterSchool2016CommunicativeArchitectureOfTheMediteraneanRefugeeCrisis
“Migrant routes” - English vs Italian.
A Critical Cartography of the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis in 2015 (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/
Dmi/WinterSchool2016CommunicativeArchitectureOfTheMediteraneanRefugeeCrisis
“Refugee routes” - English vs Italian.
A Critical Cartography of the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis in 2015 (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/
Dmi/WinterSchool2016CommunicativeArchitectureOfTheMediteraneanRefugeeCrisis
A Critical Genealogy of the Getty Images
Lean In Collection:
Researching the Feminist Politics of Stock
Photography across Representation,
Circulation and Recontextualisation
The Lean In Collection on Getty Images. http://leanin.org/getty/
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/10/business/leaninorg-and-getty-aim-to-change-womens-portrayal-in-
stock-photos.html
“Oh salad, you are hilarious.” http://imgur.com/gallery/7wOfG4U
“‘Realistic’ imaging of women in stock photography: Can Getty Images create a more diverse
representation of the world?” https://atavist.com/cms/project/236526/preview/
What kind of feminism do the images evoke
through their content but also through their
circulation?
How to study the life of an image online?
What kind of feminism do the
images evoke through their content?
A Critical Genealogy of the Getty Images Lean In Collection (2016).
https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016CriticalGenealogyGettyImagesLeanIn
A Critical Genealogy of the Getty Images Lean In Collection (2016).
https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016CriticalGenealogyGettyImagesLeanIn
How is the meaning of the collection
articulated through its circulation
online?
A Critical Genealogy of the Getty Images Lean In Collection (2016).
https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016CriticalGenealogyGettyImagesLeanIn
A Critical Genealogy of the Getty Images Lean In Collection (2016).
https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016CriticalGenealogyGettyImagesLeanIn
Digital Engagement and
Cultural Heritage
How is the identity of an
artwork reinterpreted
through circulation online?
Digital Engagement and Cultural Heritage (2016).
https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016DigitalEngagementAndCulturalHeritage
How is the #museumselfie
practiced on Instagram? Which
museums are selfie-friendly?
Digital Engagement and Cultural Heritage (2016).
https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016DigitalEngagementAndCulturalHeritage
Digital Engagement and Cultural Heritage (2016).
https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016DigitalEngagementAndCulturalHeritage
DMI Summer School 2015
Post-Snowden Media Empiricism and
Secondary Social Media: Data Studies
Beyond Facebook and Twitter
How may we rethink the study of online
media post-Snowden?
What value do secondary social media
platforms have for research?
Political Memes in a Globalised World:
Does Love Win?
Does Love Win? The Mechanics of Memetics (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/
SummerSchool2015DoesLoveWin
Does Love Win? The Mechanics of Memetics (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/
SummerSchool2015DoesLoveWin
Can we map the geographies of
expressions of support and their
counter-reactions?
Does Love Win? The Mechanics of Memetics (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/
SummerSchool2015DoesLoveWin
Does Love Win? The Mechanics of Memetics (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/
SummerSchool2015DoesLoveWin
#Whomademyclothes - Seeking the
Voices of the Workers
“In the ongoing debate about globalization,
what's been missing is the voices of the workers themselves.” Chang (2009)
Can we find the voices of the
workers online? How can we profile
them?
#FactoryWorkersSpeakOut
Google
Scraper
#Whomademyclothes - Seeking the voices of the workers (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/
HTwhomademyclothes
#Whomademyclothes - Seeking the voices of the workers (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/
HTwhomademyclothes
Anti-child labor campaign
#Whomademyclothes - Seeking the voices of the workers (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/
HTwhomademyclothes
Meeting to address sexual harassment
#Whomademyclothes - Seeking the voices of the workers (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/
HTwhomademyclothes
#Whomademyclothes - Seeking the voices of the workers (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/
HTwhomademyclothes
Tracking Ecologies
Tracking Ecologies (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/SummerSchool2015TrackingEcologies
Can we identify tracker styles per
website type?
Tracking Ecologies (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/SummerSchool2015TrackingEcologies
Tracking Ecologies (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/SummerSchool2015TrackingEcologies
Tracking Ecologies (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/SummerSchool2015TrackingEcologies
Tracking Ecologies (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/SummerSchool2015TrackingEcologies
Tracking Ecologies (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/SummerSchool2015TrackingEcologies
Micro-Temporalities of the Web
What is the ‘page weight’ of bugs
(trackers, beacons, widgets and other
devices) and how can we experience
their micro-temporalities differently?
Micro-Temporalities of the Web (2015). http://gauthiier.github.io/www-micro-temporalities/
Summer School Tips from Previous
Coordinators
• The format is ‘learning by doing’. To get the most out of
it be sure to have watched the tool tutorials and done
the readings ahead of the event.
• Test hypotheses and tools on small datasets first.
• Don't start with theory but start with the research
question, the claims (in the literature or press) and the
data;
• Let the data inform theory and let your expectations be
challenged and shaped by the data.
• Split big groups into subgroups.
• Keep the last day free to work on the presentation and
wiki page report.
• At the final presentation it is better to present one
interesting finding than 10 non-findings (findings are
more than data description).
• Be persistent - there are always ups and downs.
• Take coffee breaks seriously :-)
Thank you and enjoy the
summer school!

Doing Digital Methods: Some Recent Highlights from Winter and Summer Schools

  • 1.
    Doing Digital Methods 27June 2016, University of Amsterdam Liliana Bounegru | lilianabounegru.org | @bb_liliana Some Recent Highlights from Winter and Summer Schools
  • 2.
    Digital Methods WinterSchool 2016 Otherwise Engaged. Critical Analytics and the New Meanings of Engagement Online
  • 3.
    How may onlineengagement be understood? How can engagement metrics be repurposed for social and cultural research?
  • 5.
  • 6.
    Which platform featuresand aspects of use practices are extended and reinterpreted through support app ecologies?
  • 7.
    II. App Ecologies 1.App-specific: Instagram (likes, followers, tags, reposts, hashtags) 2. Cross-platform: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Tinder 3. Feature/metrics-based: Followers, likes, hashtags, subscribers 4. Alternative approach Methodology Get apps per keyword from App Annie. Identify related apps Google Play Similar Apps tool. Digital Methods for Number Critique (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/ WinterSchool2016DigitalMethodsForNumberCritique
  • 8.
    Instagram - KeyFindings Image editing apps Dating appsDating apps Image editing apps Digital Methods for Number Critique (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/ WinterSchool2016DigitalMethodsForNumberCritique
  • 9.
    Digital Methods forNumber Critique (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/ WinterSchool2016DigitalMethodsForNumberCritique
  • 10.
    A Critical Cartographyof the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis in 2015
  • 11.
    Method: Operationalizing criticalcartography Frame analysis of maps: Which places are included on the map? Are the origins of refugees recognized in the journalistic narrative or just the European destination? Layering and Heatmaps Data collection 1: Query design in Google images: [refugees routes] [migrant routes] Data collection 2: Videos from Arabic media Zoom-in | zoom-out: From straight lines to journeys. Framing analysis: Context- what images go with maps? Content- How do maps mean? Mapping Content analysis - image coding A Critical Cartography of the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis in 2015 (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/ Dmi/WinterSchool2016CommunicativeArchitectureOfTheMediteraneanRefugeeCrisis
  • 12.
    Frame analysis of maps Whichplaces are included on the map? | Are the origins of refugees recognized in the journalistic narrative? | Or, is it just the European destination featured? A Critical Cartography of the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis in 2015 (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/ Dmi/WinterSchool2016CommunicativeArchitectureOfTheMediteraneanRefugeeCrisis
  • 13.
    “Migrant routes” -English. A Critical Cartography of the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis in 2015 (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/ Dmi/WinterSchool2016CommunicativeArchitectureOfTheMediteraneanRefugeeCrisis
  • 14.
    “Migrant routes” -English vs Italian. A Critical Cartography of the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis in 2015 (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/ Dmi/WinterSchool2016CommunicativeArchitectureOfTheMediteraneanRefugeeCrisis
  • 15.
    “Refugee routes” -English vs Italian. A Critical Cartography of the Mediterranean Refugee Crisis in 2015 (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/ Dmi/WinterSchool2016CommunicativeArchitectureOfTheMediteraneanRefugeeCrisis
  • 16.
    A Critical Genealogyof the Getty Images Lean In Collection: Researching the Feminist Politics of Stock Photography across Representation, Circulation and Recontextualisation
  • 17.
    The Lean InCollection on Getty Images. http://leanin.org/getty/
  • 18.
  • 19.
    “Oh salad, youare hilarious.” http://imgur.com/gallery/7wOfG4U
  • 20.
    “‘Realistic’ imaging ofwomen in stock photography: Can Getty Images create a more diverse representation of the world?” https://atavist.com/cms/project/236526/preview/
  • 21.
    What kind offeminism do the images evoke through their content but also through their circulation? How to study the life of an image online?
  • 22.
    What kind offeminism do the images evoke through their content?
  • 23.
    A Critical Genealogyof the Getty Images Lean In Collection (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016CriticalGenealogyGettyImagesLeanIn
  • 24.
    A Critical Genealogyof the Getty Images Lean In Collection (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016CriticalGenealogyGettyImagesLeanIn
  • 25.
    How is themeaning of the collection articulated through its circulation online?
  • 26.
    A Critical Genealogyof the Getty Images Lean In Collection (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016CriticalGenealogyGettyImagesLeanIn
  • 27.
    A Critical Genealogyof the Getty Images Lean In Collection (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016CriticalGenealogyGettyImagesLeanIn
  • 28.
  • 29.
    How is theidentity of an artwork reinterpreted through circulation online?
  • 30.
    Digital Engagement andCultural Heritage (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016DigitalEngagementAndCulturalHeritage
  • 31.
    How is the#museumselfie practiced on Instagram? Which museums are selfie-friendly?
  • 32.
    Digital Engagement andCultural Heritage (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016DigitalEngagementAndCulturalHeritage
  • 33.
    Digital Engagement andCultural Heritage (2016). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/WinterSchool2016DigitalEngagementAndCulturalHeritage
  • 35.
    DMI Summer School2015 Post-Snowden Media Empiricism and Secondary Social Media: Data Studies Beyond Facebook and Twitter
  • 38.
    How may werethink the study of online media post-Snowden? What value do secondary social media platforms have for research?
  • 39.
    Political Memes ina Globalised World: Does Love Win?
  • 40.
    Does Love Win?The Mechanics of Memetics (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/ SummerSchool2015DoesLoveWin
  • 41.
    Does Love Win?The Mechanics of Memetics (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/ SummerSchool2015DoesLoveWin
  • 42.
    Can we mapthe geographies of expressions of support and their counter-reactions?
  • 43.
    Does Love Win?The Mechanics of Memetics (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/ SummerSchool2015DoesLoveWin
  • 44.
    Does Love Win?The Mechanics of Memetics (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/ SummerSchool2015DoesLoveWin
  • 45.
    #Whomademyclothes - Seekingthe Voices of the Workers
  • 46.
    “In the ongoingdebate about globalization, what's been missing is the voices of the workers themselves.” Chang (2009)
  • 47.
    Can we findthe voices of the workers online? How can we profile them?
  • 48.
    #FactoryWorkersSpeakOut Google Scraper #Whomademyclothes - Seekingthe voices of the workers (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/ HTwhomademyclothes
  • 49.
    #Whomademyclothes - Seekingthe voices of the workers (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/ HTwhomademyclothes
  • 50.
    Anti-child labor campaign #Whomademyclothes- Seeking the voices of the workers (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/ HTwhomademyclothes
  • 51.
    Meeting to addresssexual harassment #Whomademyclothes - Seeking the voices of the workers (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/ HTwhomademyclothes
  • 52.
    #Whomademyclothes - Seekingthe voices of the workers (2015). https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/ HTwhomademyclothes
  • 53.
  • 54.
    Tracking Ecologies (2015).https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/SummerSchool2015TrackingEcologies
  • 55.
    Can we identifytracker styles per website type?
  • 56.
    Tracking Ecologies (2015).https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/SummerSchool2015TrackingEcologies
  • 57.
    Tracking Ecologies (2015).https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/SummerSchool2015TrackingEcologies
  • 58.
    Tracking Ecologies (2015).https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/SummerSchool2015TrackingEcologies
  • 59.
    Tracking Ecologies (2015).https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/SummerSchool2015TrackingEcologies
  • 60.
    Tracking Ecologies (2015).https://wiki.digitalmethods.net/Dmi/SummerSchool2015TrackingEcologies
  • 61.
  • 62.
    What is the‘page weight’ of bugs (trackers, beacons, widgets and other devices) and how can we experience their micro-temporalities differently?
  • 63.
    Micro-Temporalities of theWeb (2015). http://gauthiier.github.io/www-micro-temporalities/
  • 64.
    Summer School Tipsfrom Previous Coordinators
  • 65.
    • The formatis ‘learning by doing’. To get the most out of it be sure to have watched the tool tutorials and done the readings ahead of the event. • Test hypotheses and tools on small datasets first. • Don't start with theory but start with the research question, the claims (in the literature or press) and the data; • Let the data inform theory and let your expectations be challenged and shaped by the data.
  • 66.
    • Split biggroups into subgroups. • Keep the last day free to work on the presentation and wiki page report. • At the final presentation it is better to present one interesting finding than 10 non-findings (findings are more than data description). • Be persistent - there are always ups and downs. • Take coffee breaks seriously :-)
  • 67.
    Thank you andenjoy the summer school!