Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)
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This thesis expands on an arguably underexplored interdisciplinary collaboration within both social and data science disciplines, and their potential to reimagine algorithmic systems as more...Show moreThis thesis expands on an arguably underexplored interdisciplinary collaboration within both social and data science disciplines, and their potential to reimagine algorithmic systems as more culturally and human-centered. To do so, this thesis firstly departs from current narratives related to the dichotomy between humans and machines to analyze the novel role social scientists play in this digital reality and future. Secondly, this thesis addresses what an interdisciplinary methodology of social scientists applying computational techniques may look like, as well as helps to answer the part of the research question that deals with “incorporating” the two disciplines. This more technical section focused on Laura K. Nelson’s Computational Grounded Theory which sets out to incorporate computational tools for social scientists wanting to conduct content analysis. Finally, this thesis highlights viable solutions for social science research and more culturally-centered research is working towards creating more human-centered algorithms by exploring possible strategies for cultural interpretations of these existing systems by evaluating metrics of algorithmic systems.Show less
Bachelor thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (BSc)
closed access
In today's world, the approximate screen time on digital devices is around 7 hours a day. One hundred years ago, this was zero. This thesis questions this behavioral change, embracing the progress...Show moreIn today's world, the approximate screen time on digital devices is around 7 hours a day. One hundred years ago, this was zero. This thesis questions this behavioral change, embracing the progress of digitalization and questioning people's relationship with digital technology. Besides analyzing the 'attention economy', the profit-based digital market, and infrastructures behind 'the digital', it finally focuses on the supposed benefits of 'Digital Minimalism'. The latter encompasses choosing more intentionality in how individuals use digital technology as a means to an end as opposed to using it distractingly.Show less
Several advanced countries are experiencing sub-replacement level fertility rates which, together with an increase in life expectancy, results in population decrease and ageing. Scholars have...Show moreSeveral advanced countries are experiencing sub-replacement level fertility rates which, together with an increase in life expectancy, results in population decrease and ageing. Scholars have focused on studying these phenomena as potential trigger of societal and economic changes. However, the link between demographic decline and public sector innovation remains unexplored: we know little about innovation by governments when they are pressured by a population that is shrinking and ageing. This study tries to fill this gap by examining the digital transformation of Italian provincial capitals. I argue that the demographic decline can make the digitalization of local administrations less attractive, since it would shrink the pool of potential users of the innovative item. This hypothesis was tested with multiple regression analyses and the findings support the existence of a negative and statistically significant correlation between demographic decline and local government digitalization.Show less
