Projects / Programmes
Social Sciences Methodology, Statistics and Informatics
January 1, 2009
- December 31, 2014
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.03.00 |
Social sciences |
Sociology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S274 |
Social sciences |
Research methodology in science |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.04 |
Social Sciences |
Sociology |
anketno zbiranje podatkov, kvaliteta merjenja, neodgovori, vzorčenje, informacijska družba, socialna omrežja, analiza velikih omrežij, bločni modeli, linearni statistični modeli, teorija odločanja, analiza svetovnega spleta, web mining
Researchers (26)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Research group is working in the following researh areas:
1) MEASUREMENT PROBLEMS IN SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS. Social network analysis has become one of the most promising approaches in numerous social fields (sociology, economy, communication studies, psychology, etc.). Main research objectives within this area the following research is planned:
a) The analysis of measurement quality (validity, reliability),
b) The survey mode effects (face-to-face, telephone, mail, Web),
c) The influence of name generators' order of precedence and limitation of the number of listed names,
d) The potentials of new technologies (Internet, mobile phone devices) for social networks measurements.
2) ALGORITHMS FOR NETWORK ANALYSIS. Research group is one of the leading groups worldwide in developing methods for analysis of large (over 100,000 vertices) networks, such as analysis of connections among members of informal organizations (criminal groups, business lobbies) and analysis of electronic and mobile communications in larger communities. Research has been conducted in the following key directions:
a) The development and implementation of algorithms for analysis of large networks,
b) The development and implementation of algorithms for network visualization,
c) The enlargement of interactive graphical presentation for unveiling and representing clusters of networks,
d) The blockmodeling for weighted and large networks,
e) The statistical analysis of large networks.
3) MODELING AND EVALUATION OF NONRESPONSE. One of the most serious problems in the study of contemporary survey methodology is the steady growth of nonresponse. Trends are not clear and linear, mostly because of the fact that low response rate does not automatically result in high nonresponse error. Research will be done in the following directions:
a) The study of trends and explaining of causes for nonresponse,
b) The development of models for predicting nonresponse error,
c) The impact of different methods for studying nonresposne on the sampling variance.
4) NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN SURVEY RESEARCH. In a few years, new technologies (Internet, mobile phone, interactive TV, palmtops, etc.) will become prevalent tools for data collection. However, their influence on quality and costs is relatively unclear. Research plans are:
a) The meta analysis and modeling of response rate in Web surveys,
b) The issues of reliability, validity and bias in Web-based surveys,
c) The modeling of costs and errors,
d) The potentials and limitations of surveying over mobile phones (interviewer- and self-administered).
5) APPLICATION OF MATHEMATICAL NODELS IN SOCIAL SCIENCES:
a) The applications of linear algebra in statistics,
b) The applications of utility theory in decision making,
c) The applications of non-additive measures and probabilities in statistics and social sciences.
6) METHODOLOGICAL PROBLEMS WITH MONITORING INFORMATION SOCIETY'S PHENOMENA.
Research is directed to the following objectives:
a) To determine optimal benchmarks (i.e. comparable indicators) and analysis of their measurement stability,
b) The methodological problems of monitoring information society (telework, e-commerce, e-learning, e-government, etc.) and problem of integral approach to usability evaluation of Web pages,
c) The measurement and conceptual problems with studying security, privacy and trust and the role of multivariate interactions within this field (e.g., digital divide).
7) MULTIMODE ANALYSIS OF DATA FROM WORLD WIDE WEB: World Wide Web contains variety of data, which require synthesis of three types of analyses: classical statistical analysis of individual cases, analysis of relational data (i.e. network analysis) and text mining. Main objectives:
a) The investigation of basic methodological principals in synthesis of different approaches,
b) The development of unified analytical tool for complete analysis of World Wide Web.
Significance for science
1. MEASUREMENT PROBLEMS IN SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS pose an obstacle to the wider application of network analysis. Namely, the quality of measurement that has been studied by the programme group represents an important contribution to the growing number of applications of social network analyses within several fields. It also contributes to outlining the solutions, which supports the expansion of network analysis in the social sciences. 2. SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS has – due to stronger needs emerging within different scientific fields – been seeing exceptional growth in development around the world in the last few decades. Members of the programme group have been strongly involved in developing this field, contributing particularly to the areas of blockmodeling (generalised, weighted, multimode and multi-level blockmodeling) and the development of social networks over time. The research results have been published in the most distinguished journals and publishers (Wiley and Cambridge University Press) in this field. 3. THE ANALYSIS OF LARGE NETWORKS is expanding the existing potential of social network analysis with respect to the number of units included in the analysis. The developers of the Pajek programme package have powerfully improved the capabilities of the programme regarding the analysis of very large networks. As a result, Pajek is currently one of the leading global tools in this field. The authors have also improved the graphical presentation and interactive potential of the programme package. All of these improvements can significantly contribute to the global application of network analysis in numerous social scientific areas. 4. NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN SURVEY RESEARCH is a topic that requires a permanent, ongoing scientific reflection. In particular, the evaluation of their potential is extremely important. The past methodological research in the area of Web surveys performed in the project WebSM have already achieved a global response. The research work in this area brought new findings and further contributed to the increased use of new technologies in survey research. 5. MATHEMATICAL MODELS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES is a relatively new field of scientific research. Here, the methods developed for application in other fields were basically readapted for the social sciences. In addition, some new specific models and variations have been developed. The quality of the research findings and publications indicate that the group is also internationally recognised in this field. 6. MEASURING AND EXPLAINING PHENOMENA OF INFORMATION SOCIETY: The research in this area has several important scientific impacts. First, improved information society indicators allow better understanding of these phenomena and contribute to overcoming of some challenges in international comparisons. Second, newly developed individual-level measures of until recently neglected aspects of social action in on-line communities, are important to put the research of internet phenomena on a new level. Thirdly, while the topic of on-line community management was until recently covered mostly in professional tutorials, the group opened a scientific perspective of this issue.
Significance for the country
SUSTAINABLE SOCIOECONOMIC AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT 1) Impact on better social network measurements and social network analysis: The results are particularly useful for the survey network measurement and the analysis of large networks, including the analysis of relationships among companies/organisations, relationships between the users of modern technologies (the Internet, mobile phone devices, Web presentations). The analysis of informal organisation networks (e.g., criminal groups, business lobbies) is also very important. 2) Impact on the introduction of new technologies in survey research: Slovenia is relatively developed in the area of information technologies. Therefore, the use of developed new technologies in survey reasearch is highly relevant. 3) Impact on an improved understanding of the information society: The obtained results have improved the general quality of indicators of the information society. This has also increased the level of the understanding of the related problems. Only a proper understanding of these issues enables the establishment of the optimal measures to regulate and stimulate developments in this area. TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS 1) The proposed research contributes to the higher quality and increased international comparability of the information society indicators. The research group unveils new perspectives on the social role of on-line communities and the modalities of their management. 2) The programme Pajek is the most appreciated and used programme for the analysis of large networks in the world. 3) The research group has been developing a web survey software tool (1ka) which has become the most often used web survey application in Slovenia and has also been used abroad. STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL IDENTITY AND PRESERVING THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE 1) The programme Pajek for large network analysis has become a globally accessible research product. The website with this programme is thus one of the few Slovenian websites which offers Slovenian research findings to the global scientific community. It thereby also contributes to the modern identity of Slovenia as a whole. 2) The web page WebSM, the leading global page for the field of Web survey methodology, was also designed in Slovenia, which offers some opportunity for the country’s corresponding global promotion. 3) The web survey software tool (1ka) enables Slovenian researchers and also non-professional user to collect survey data in order to solve various research problems as well as support decision making in various contexts.
Audiovisual sources (1)
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
2011,
2012,
2013,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
