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Overview
OPEN TO CANDIDATURES. DEADLINE June 16 E 2020 APPLY | DOWNLOAD RFP
Work in progress at the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) in recent years, including our 2018 report “To secure knowledge” , have identified the importance of access to socially relevant data so that researchers can tackle major issues that inform, strengthen and protect the public interest. Much of this data, including social media and the algorithms that determine how information is shared, is proprietary, owned by private companies, and inaccessible for independent research projects. As social media platforms begin to involve the wider research community, crucial issues of public importance – such as the role of social media in democratic politics – must be addressed now with the tools available which meet the highest scientific and ethical standards.
The Social Data Research Fellowship and the Social Data Dissertation Fellowship , new initiatives of the Social Science Research Council, with the support of the Omidyar network, seek to encourage multi-faceted pathways for the collection and analysis of social data, with the broader aim of cultivating solid research on technology and society. In particular, we want to support research that creatively uses available social data to study how social media interacts with democracy and elections. Broadening access, use and analysis of ethical scholars to a range of social data is essential for understanding the complex ways in which social media and other technologies impact life and political processes.
The SSRC solicits proposals from researchers in the social sciences and related fields for the Social Data Research Fellowship and the Social Data Dissertation Fellowship . These grants will support research projects of a maximum duration of 12 months, which focus on two key areas:
- Advance scientific research on the role of social media in elections and democracy, with a focus on the 2020 US elections, including local, state and / or national primary or general elections. Topics may include (but are not limited to) disinformation, polarization, election integrity, political engagement, political advertising, micro-targeting, voter suppression, forms of algorithmic bias related to elections, the impact of reporting and changes in the media ecosystem, or other related areas. Research that explores more than one social media platform or the relationship between social media platforms is particularly appreciated, as is research that explores the disproportionate effects on political participation of women and underrepresented groups.
- Expand best practices and methods of accessing and analyzing relevant data that can inform our understanding of the impact of social media on democracy, including (but not limited to) new methods of collecting and sharing Datas; explore the implications for confidentiality and data ethics; alternative proxy data to inform our broader understanding of proprietary social media data; and ethnographic, journalistic or other qualitative approaches to data collection.
Covid-19: The global Covid-19 pandemic quickly changed the political, electoral and media landscape associated with the 2020 US elections. The main focus of this grant opportunity is related to social media and the 2020 elections, as described above; however, applications that study the impact of the coronavirus pandemic when it cuts across the main themes described above are particularly encouraged. For example, explorations of political debates, news or misinformation have circulated via social media on topics related to the 2020 US elections and amplified by circumstances related to Covid-19, such as debates by email vote , health care policy, Covid-19. disinformation campaigns related to elections, etc. are welcome.
Eligibility
The social data research grant program is open to researchers holding a doctorate in a relevant discipline and based in a higher education institution (college or university) or non-profit focused on social research. These scholarships must not exceed US $ 50,000.
The Social Data Dissertation Scholarship Program is open to doctoral students who are actively enrolled in a doctoral program, who may apply for scholarships of up to US $ 15,000 to support thesis research. The medjouel.com team informs you that candidates for the program must have completed all doctoral courses at the start of the scholarship period.
Proposal information and resources
The full request for proposals, including a detailed list of proposal requirements and full eligibility conditions, is available in PDF format here .
- The SSRC applications portal will be open to accept applications from April 27, 2020.
- Data management plan guidelines are available here.
- Frequently asked questions
Examination process and selection criteria
Proposals will be reviewed according to the highest standards of academic research. All proposals are carefully reviewed by SSRC staff to ensure that the proposal meets the basic eligibility requirements and that the application meets all of the submission requirements. Each request is then reviewed by people outside the SSRC who are familiar with the specific areas, methods or approaches represented by the proposal. The selection committee, or part of it, will meet to discuss the proposals and their review, and produce a list of support recommendations.
Applications recommended for support will be subject to an additional review on ethics and confidentiality. Each finalist proposal will be read by the ethics reviewers, and any concerns or requests for change will be shared with the PI via a written report. Reports will focus on signaling potential concerns and recommending best practices to mitigate potential damage.
Examination criteria:
- Intellectual merit: the intellectual importance of the proposed project and its ability to advance scholarship, scientific understanding and / or public knowledge, as well as the extent to which the project offers thoughtful and generalizable models or new avenues for study the impact of social media on democracy.
- Feasibility: the relevance of the activities, methods, planned activities and proposed budget to achieve the stated objectives of the proposed project.
- Qualifications: the degree to which participants have the expertise, skills and knowledge necessary to achieve the stated objectives of the proposed project.
- Ethics and confidentiality: the stated commitment and plan to meet or exceed the standards for ethical use of data, including the protection of individuals and their privacy.
This research is funded by Omidyar Network.
