Table 1 Computational social science approach and its reformulation when participatory and inclusive practices are enhanced.
Computational social science general approach | Conceptual shift | Reformulation with participatory and inclusive practices | Key citizen social science aspects | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Research framing | Stylised, abstract and decontextualised | Shared research question | Related to a specific shared social concern, contextualised | - Place vulnerable groups’ perspective at the centre of the research - Partner with CSOs and working groups with diverse social actors (civil society partners) - Agree on a shared narrative and research plan with civil society partners |
Research design | By researchers, e.g., in behavioural economics or psychology | Co-creation and co-design processes | Jointly with non-professional scientists as competent experts in-the-field (co-researchers) | - Establish inclusive and horizontal research scenarios - Implement ethical supervision and evaluation - Involve experts-in-the-field (co-researchers) and populations in a vulnerable situation - Validate research steps and prototype research devices with civil society partners - Build an experience rather than an experiment |
Experimental spaces | Secluded or virtual laboratories in fully controlled settings | Lab-in-the-field adaptive approach | Natural relational spaces (public spaces or community spaces) | - Implement the research in socialised environments - Test the research in small-scale real settings - Upscale the research in mass events or larger scale events - Implement the research in different social contexts and locations - Conceive the experimental spaces as places for self-reflection for participants |
Data sources | Passive volunteer individuals, e.g., university students, Turkers or hospital patients | Conscious and active participation | Data consciously collected and directly collected from concerned citizens | - Collectively generate new data, able to respond civil society actors’ interests but also valuable for academic research - Open the data and fully document meta-data to enhance reusability and replicability |
Actionable knowledge | Long-term. Scientists generally delegate responsibility to other social actors (e.g., policy makers) | Mission-oriented collective research | Civil society actors share interest about the results, strengthening the possibility for short-term social change | - Create open and public materials accessible to general audience and concerned group - Write public reports containing solid scientific-based arguments - Disseminate the scientific results through press campaigns - Initiate public discussions about the social issue |
