April 16, 2021

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Committee, sponsored by the Office of Research and Innovation, is pleased to announce the following two Zoom events:
(1) “Pitfalls of Using Big Data in Social Science Research” (April 30, 2021)
(2) “Writing Retreat: Using Evidence and Writing from Data” (April 23, 2021 – rescheduled event).   
Please see below for further information.  

Pitfalls of Using Big Data in Social Science Research
Friday, April 30, 2021
2:00pm to 4:00pm

As part of our computation social science initiative, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Committee (SSRC) will host a Zoom workshop, entitled “Pitfalls of Using Big Data in Social Science Research.” In recent years, we have witnessed an increasing use of big data and machine learning in social science research, and more research articles using these quantitative methods have appeared in major disciplinary journals as well as general science journals such as Nature and Science.  Nonetheless, history tells us that big data cannot replace fundamental principles and some research papers using this approach have drawn criticism from the social science and statistics research communities. 

You are invited to join a workshop on the use of big data in social science research.  Our panelists, Dr. Asta Zelenkauskaite from Communication Department and Dr. Jake Williams from Computer Science Department, will discuss how they use big data in their research and strategies they employ to avoid common pitfalls of using big data.  Participants are invited to bring questions and experiences of working with big data to share with the group.  Dr. Tran Huynh from Department of Environment and Occupational Health will moderate the conversation.  

If you are interested in attending this event, please REGISTER by April 28, 2021.  Zoom link will be sent to registrants prior to the event.

Writing Retreat: Using Evidence and Writing from Data
Facilitated by the University Writing Program
Friday, April 23, 2021
10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

In collaboration with the Office of Research & Innovation and the Office of Faculty Affairs, the Social Science Research Committee (SSRC) will work with the University’s Writing Program (UWP) to offer a third writing retreat via Zoom.  In this 2.5-hour retreat, we again invite you to dedicate time to working on your own writing.  

In the first hour, you will participate in a workshop about improving how you make evidence-based arguments in your writing and writing from data. Many of us are experts at generating and gathering data and research, and this workshop will focus on incorporating such evidence in your writing to develop positions and arguments. We will also discuss the practices and nuances of citation. 

During the remainder of the retreat, you will have time to work on a writing project: To write! We will use Zoom so you can break out into smaller groups to create an open, studio-type environment during which you can write and talk with one another and us. This writing time is open, but it might be especially good to bring a writing project in which you have been struggling to incorporate your research.

If you are interested in joining the retreat, please REGISTER no later than April 23, 2021. We will send registered participants a Zoom link before the retreat.  Note this is a rescheduled event (originally scheduled in March) – you do not need to resubmit registration if you already did it in March. 

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Committee (SSHRC) aims at building a vibrant social science research and humanities research community at Drexel University. We are open to faculty members from all academic fields.  If you are interested in joining the 365 Group (on Outlook) of the SSHRC to receive information related to social science research, please contact Brooklyn Daly, bmd88@drexel.edu.