Home made big data‽ Challenges and opportunities for participatory social research

Authors

  • Alexander Halavais Arizona State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v18i10.4876

Abstract

Why should big data be the purview of only national governments, corporations, and (sometimes) academics? Many Web communications and other electronic traces are made by people as part of their everyday lives, and many of these same producers of big data have questions they want to answer about their own lives. This paper suggests some ways of thinking about big data in the context of questions people are trying to answer for themselves and their communities. It then takes an initial glance at conversations on Reddit to see how users draw on evidence, and concludes by arguing that there is space for home–made big data.

Author Biography

Alexander Halavais, Arizona State University

Alexander Halavais is an associate professor in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Arizona State University, where he researches ways in which social media change the nature of scholarship and learning, and allow for new forms of collaboration and self–government.

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Published

2013-10-01

How to Cite

Halavais, A. (2013). Home made big data‽ Challenges and opportunities for participatory social research. First Monday, 18(10). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v18i10.4876