Quantitative Methods in the
Social Sciences 2

18 - 19 December 2008

Amsterdam School of Communications Research, University of Amsterdam,

Organisers

Gregor Petrič and Wouter de Nooy

Goal

The intensive use of new information and communication technologies, especially the web, by individuals and social actors generally has tremendously increased the availability of data and opportunities for data processing and analysis. This seminar will stress the value of taking appropriate theoretical perspectives and using appropriate analytic strategies in the study of (computer mediated) communication networks. The network will bring together leading researchers and young scientists from a range of disciplines to share knowledge and produce synergies that will define the research field.

Themes

Main topics of the workshop:

1. Communication networks on the web as a theoretical and methodological challenge

• conceptualization of communication processes on the web
• possibilities and problems of theoretically informed social network analysis

2. Social structures on the web

• emergence of social structures in communication networks on the web
• interactional and community dynamics
• social roles, collective action

3. Dynamics of collaboration on the web

• structure of citation and collaboration ties
• structure of content
• combination of two approaches

4. Measuring and collecting data for communication networks on the web

• methodologies for analyzing communication networks on the web
• collecting, parsing, coding data
• identification of actors and identification of the content

Format

The workshop is organized as follows. For each of the main topics, a prominent researcher will deliver an invited lecture. The junior participants present their papers, which will be commented upon by the invited speakers, followed by a discussion with the other participants. The papers will be distributed to the participants before the start of the workshop. Altogether, there will be four invited speakers and a maximum of 20 junior presenters at the workshop

Invited speakers

Prof. Noshir Contractor, Northwestern University, USA.
Prof. Loet Leydesdorff, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Prof. Mike Thelwall, University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.
Howard Welser PhD, Ohio University, USA.

Submission

Papers specifying a research design or presenting (preliminary) results of postgraduate students addressing the above topics are invited. In addition to a presentation, active participation in the discussions is expected. An extended abstract of the paper is required for submission.

All papers should be prepared in electronic form. Extended abstracts must be written in English and should be between 1,000 – 1,500 words. Notification of acceptance will be given by October 15.

Important dates

September 1: Deadline for submission of the extended abstracts
October 15: Authors of accepted papers are notified
December 1: Submission of full papers (app. 4000 words)

Please send your abstract to Wouter de Nooy.

This seminar is now fully booked.

Travel and accommodation:

Participants' travel and accommodation expenses will be covered by the QMSS 2 programme, provided that they come from or are working in one of the 17 countries who support QMSS 2. To check eligibility, see Countries.

Language:

The official language of the workshop will be English.