ANALYZE THIS
Define "assemblage"
The way we combine technology, digital programs, humanities and research for studies
What is an API?
Application Programming Interface
What hashtag was discussed in the case study?
#notracist
What is one ethical concern when collecting big data from social media?
Privacy issues—users may not be aware their data is being collected
What does it mean when we say "big data is not always complete"?
It means that datasets may have gaps due to API restrictions, missing context, or data collection biases.
What does data mining do?
Data mining helps us find patterns and correlations among large sets of data for research purposes
What was the primary case study?
A process that creates a digital representation of physical space.
Spatial mapping
Why can big data sometimes reinforce biases rather than eliminate them?
Algorithms are trained on existing data, which can reflect societal biases and perpetuate them
Why is interpreting visual data more challenging than textual data?
Visual data often lacks metadata, can be ambiguous, and requires additional contextual knowledge to analyze correctly.
What is a major flaw of social media data analysis?
Some programs have rate limits
OR
Data needs humans to understand what they are looking at
Define "Big Data Challenge"
The complex dynamics behind collecting, assessing and storing large sums of data
What hashtag clusters spread outward?
comedy & truth
What is "context collapse" in social media research?
When data is taken out of its original social or cultural context, leading to misinterpretation
What is one common misconception about big data analytics?
That more data automatically leads to better insights—context and interpretation are still crucial.
Who wrote the reading related to data analysis and its problems?
Brooker
How should researchers approach datasets?
Mixing computational and manual practices
What type of reasoning do spatial algorithms use to represent distinctions between nodes?
Mathematical reasoning
According to Brooker, what is one limitation of relying solely on computational methods for data analysis?
Computational methods lack the ability to interpret social and cultural meanings behind the data
Why does Brooker argue that spatial mapping is useful for understanding social media trends?
Because it helps visualize how information spreads geographically and socially, revealing patterns not obvious in raw data.
In the reading, Brooker felt we need to focus on data____ and visual __?
Processes
What was 1 of 3 tools mentioned for visualizing social media data
Gephi, NodeXL or Chorus
The ___ is what constructs and constrains the map.
algorithm
How can researchers ensure ethical data collection in social media research?
By obtaining informed consent when possible, anonymizing data, and being transparent about their methodology
What does the concept of "assemblage" mean in data analysis?
It refers to the integration of data, visualization, and interpretation to construct meaningful insights.