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Social Research Using Digital Trace Data - ACSPRI Methods Conference - Sydney, Dec 2010
by Robert Ackland 27 Sep '10

27 Sep '10

The Australian Consortium for Social and Political Research, Inc. (ACSPRI) Social Science Methodology Conference is being held in Sydney, 1-3 December 2010. I am convening a session titled "Social Research Using Digital Trace Data". Vast quantities of data are generated daily in social media environments such as blogsites, microblogs (Twitter), social networking sites (e.g. Facebook) and virtual worlds (e.g. Second Life). However, using these data for social science research poses significant methodological challenges. Prospective participants are invited to submit proposals for papers focusing on quantitative and qualitative research methods for digital trace data. Both refereed papers and work in progress presentations that fit into this session are welcome. The deadline for submissions is Friday 1st October (this Friday!). Please submit your proposal or paper to: http://www.acspri.org.au/ Please contact me if you would like further information. -- ------------------------------------- Dr Robert Ackland Fellow and Masters Coordinator, Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute, The Australian National University e-mail: robert.ackland(a)anu.edu.au homepage: http://adsri.anu.edu.au/people/robert.php project: http://voson.anu.edu.au Information about the Master of Social Research (Social Science of the Internet specialisation): http://adsri.anu.edu.au/study/msr.php -------------------------------------

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cultural/political studies on Reverse Engineering ?
by Antoine Mazieres 27 Sep '10

27 Sep '10

Dear IRs, First of all, I'm following this mailing-list with great attention since more than a year, and it's the first time i'm posting something, so : thanks for existing ! :) I'm doing some research on cultural aspects and political implications of Reverse Engineering, understood as a specific way to interact with devices and to learn. I've started some field studies and already get some good bibliographical references about reversing of Skype, DRM, or general considerations on regulation and law issues attached to that topic. But, until now I didn't find something that do a zoom-out on cultural and political contexts of this practice. Maybe one of you have heard on something ? Or could suggest a trail to follow ? Thank you, All best, Antoine Mazières

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How does Facebook find friends?
by Anders Fagerjord 27 Sep '10

27 Sep '10

Dear all, does anyone understand the Facebook friend suggestions algorithm? Last night, my stepson joined Facebook. Immediately, it suggested he be friends with his mother, his grandfather, and his granduncle. How could Facebook know they were related? They had no friends in common, and didn't share friends-of-friends either. His last name is common in Norway (and his granduncle has a different name). He didn't enter any phone number or postal address. He used his gmail account when he joined Facebook, but did not allow the book to search his e-mail contacts (and he doesn't know his uncle's e-mail address). Does anyone understand how Facebook pulls this trick? --anders -- Anders Fagerjord, dr.art. Associate professor, Head of Studies Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo P.O. Box 1093 Blindern N-0317 OSLO Norway http://www.media.uio.no http://fagerjord.no

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'Cybercrime' Call for Papers (Deadline: 30 November 2010)
by David Sutcliffe 27 Sep '10

27 Sep '10

Hello everyone, Just a reminder that Policy and Internet's 'Cybercrime' Call for Papers ends on 30 November 2010. Call: http://www.oii.ox.ac.uk/news/?id=424 Editors: policyandinternet(a)oii.ox.ac.uk We are calling for academic papers reporting on innovative research into the public policy implications of cybercrime, present and future. The journal is fully multi-disciplinary in scope, and perspectives from any academic discipline are welcomed, provided that the papers consider the policy implications of the research discussed, whether general, sectoral, country-specific or comparative. The journal is edited by the Oxford Internet Institute (University of Oxford) for the Policy Studies Organization (PSO), and published by BEPress. Best wishes, David [Sutcliffe, Managing Ed.]

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Re: [Air-L] facebook evidence?
by Alex Halavais 27 Sep '10

27 Sep '10

Call me paranoid, but I would trust evidence based on experimentation over Facebook's own claims any day, even if such claims were forthcoming, which I doubt. Of course, deriving such evidence would be far from easy, especially if bound by the terms of service... On Sep 26, 2010 8:00 PM, "live" <human.factor.one(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Isn't that a little like asking for Google's algorithm? Would they let > out data like that? Hmmm, I wonder. > > > On Sep 26, 2010, at 3:28 PM, Barry Wellman wrote: > >> I've learned a lot from the Facebook discussion about how "matches" >> are made,* but mostly it has been deduction, conjecture and anecdote. >> >> *****Does anybody have any really reliable, verifiable evidence >> about how Facebook matches are actually made? >> >> *And reinforced my own reasons for not on FBook, altho I am on >> Twitter. >> >> Barry Wellman >> _______________________________________________________________________ >> >> S.D. Clark Professor of Sociology, FRSC NetLab Director >> Department of Sociology 725 Spadina Avenue, Room 388 >> University of Toronto Toronto Canada M5S 2J4 twitter:barrywellman >> http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman fax:+1-416-978-3963 >> Updating history: http://chass.utoronto.ca/oldnew/cybertimes.php >> _______________________________________________________________________ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> The Air-L(a)listserv.aoir.org mailing list >> is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org >> Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org >> >> Join the Association of Internet Researchers: >> http://www.aoir.org/ > > _______________________________________________ > The Air-L(a)listserv.aoir.org mailing list > is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org > Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org > > Join the Association of Internet Researchers: > http://www.aoir.org/

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Re: [Air-L] How does Facebook find friends?
by Lawson Fletcher 26 Sep '10

26 Sep '10

Hi all, Regarding Marco's point, this is important because it goes back to the 'reciprocity' or whatever you'd like to call it of Facebook, namely that even if I have been extremely careful and guarded about what info I share on Facebook and what I allow it access to, the moment one of my friends has not done the same, and is in some way connected to information of mine (through a post comment, a shared photo, etc. etc.), then the profile is reopened in a sense. The only true privacy is not to be on it, but even that doesn't stop people posting photographs of you on there. Cheers, Lawson ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 25 Sep 2010 01:42:21 -0300 From: "Marco Toledo Bastos" <herrcafe(a)gmail.com> To: <air-l(a)listserv.aoir.org> Subject: Re: [Air-L] How does Facebook find friends? Message-ID: <001201cb5c6c$0c899e40$259cdac0$@com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Anders, This also got me thinking. It all started a few years ago when my hairdresser, who I went to once, and who has sent me a few emails, turned up as a FB suggestion. We didn't have any friends in common and I most certainly have NOT allowed FB to go thru my Gmail contacts (or any other account). This all had happened once before when FB suggested another person with whom I sure shared no friends whatsoever. Since I'm dead sure I haven't given Facebook permission to contact my Gmail account and FB sure isn't allowed to mine my cache, I was ready to go paranoid (seemed like Facebook was stealing my Gmail contacts). But after a few emails to friends and nerds of all stripes, we came up with the conclusion that it was the hairdresser who allowed FB to collect *her* contact info. That's how FB knew we had been in contact in a given moment. Bottom line: there are only two ways FB could have gotten that info from me. Either by mining my Chrome cache, and I refuse to consider this possibility, or breaking into Googles's office in Mountain View, since Gmail was the only place where I had that info stored. So getting back to your question, the kid might not know his uncle's e-mail, but my two cent is that the uncle's contact list sure includes the kid's name and/or his e-mail. Either way, this is not good. But it is the future, and the future is here. []s MTB ------------------------------

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Re: [Air-L] How does Facebook find friends?
by Stacy Blasiola 25 Sep '10

25 Sep '10

I believe this is akin to the way in which gmail scans emails for keywords. I may not use gmail, but if I email a friend who does, then Gmail can scan the email I've written. Comparatively, if I don't allow Facebook to access my email list, but I have a friend who does and I'm on theirs, then Facebook will make the connection. In both cases, only one user has agreed to the terms. This seems problematic. I believe, particularly in the Facebook example, that it gives other people rights over our information that I'm not so sure they should have. -Stacy Blasiola UW-Milwaukee Graduate Student Media Studies Marco Toledo Bastos <herrcafe(a)gmail.com> wrote: Anders, This also got me thinking. It all started a few years ago when my hairdresser, who I went to once, and who has sent me a few emails, turned up as a FB suggestion. We didn't have any friends in common and I most certainly have NOT allowed FB to go thru my Gmail contacts (or any other account). This all had happened once before when FB suggested another person with whom I sure shared no friends whatsoever. Since I'm dead sure I haven't given Facebook permission to contact my Gmail account and FB sure isn't allowed to mine my cache, I was ready to go paranoid (seemed like Facebook was stealing my Gmail contacts). But after a few emails to friends and nerds of all stripes, we came up with the conclusion that it was the hairdresser who allowed FB to collect *her* contact info. That's how FB knew we had been in contact in a given moment. Bottom line: there are only two ways FB could have gotten that info from me. Either by mining my Chrome cache, and I refuse to consider this possibility, or breaking into Googles's office in Mountain View, since Gmail was the only place where I had that info stored. So getting back to your question, the kid might not know his uncle's e-mail, but my two cent is that the uncle's contact list sure includes the kid's name and/or his e-mail. Either way, this is not good. But it is the future, and the future is here. []s MTB _______________________________________________ The Air-L(a)listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/

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Re: [Air-L] How does Facebook find friends?
by Marco Toledo Bastos 25 Sep '10

25 Sep '10

Anders, This also got me thinking. It all started a few years ago when my hairdresser, who I went to once, and who has sent me a few emails, turned up as a FB suggestion. We didn't have any friends in common and I most certainly have NOT allowed FB to go thru my Gmail contacts (or any other account). This all had happened once before when FB suggested another person with whom I sure shared no friends whatsoever. Since I'm dead sure I haven't given Facebook permission to contact my Gmail account and FB sure isn't allowed to mine my cache, I was ready to go paranoid (seemed like Facebook was stealing my Gmail contacts). But after a few emails to friends and nerds of all stripes, we came up with the conclusion that it was the hairdresser who allowed FB to collect *her* contact info. That's how FB knew we had been in contact in a given moment. Bottom line: there are only two ways FB could have gotten that info from me. Either by mining my Chrome cache, and I refuse to consider this possibility, or breaking into Googles's office in Mountain View, since Gmail was the only place where I had that info stored. So getting back to your question, the kid might not know his uncle's e-mail, but my two cent is that the uncle's contact list sure includes the kid's name and/or his e-mail. Either way, this is not good. But it is the future, and the future is here. []s MTB

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ir11 schedule
by Abbe Forman 24 Sep '10

24 Sep '10

Does anyone know when the schedule will be available? We are trying to plan arrivals and departures, etc... thanks much Abbe Forman Abbe E. Forman, Ph.D. Assistant Professor (Teaching/Instruction) Temple University Phone: 215-204-4207 http://astro.temple.edu/~afmusic <http://astro.temple.edu/%7Eafmusic>

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New Media Job - Univ. Amsterdam
by Richard Rogers 24 Sep '10

24 Sep '10

Dear colleagues, The University of Amsterdam seeks to appoint a full-time assistant professor (tenure-track) in New Media & Digital Culture. The deadline for applications is 10 October 2010. Sincerely, Richard Rogers Prof. dr. Richard Rogers Chair, New Media & Digital Culture University of Amsterdam http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/r.a.rogers/ Assistant Professor of New Media and Digital Culture 1.0 FTE (38 hours a week) vacancy number 10-3043 The ideal candidate would have familiarity with the study of digital media in the humanities, and have made acquaintance with such areas as cyberculture, digital humanities, information aesthetics and visualization, Internet studies, media arts, media history, media theory and/or virtual ethnography. Internet skills are essential, as is up-to-date knowledge of Internet culture. Practical experience in working with web-based applications (e.g., blogs and wikis) is desirable. The new media and digital culture team is part of the Media Studies department and concerns itself with research strategies for the critical study of Internet culture. The assistant professor is expected to teach on both the bachelor's and master's degree levels, in courses concerned with such topics as digital journalism, digital aesthetics, Internet research methods and techniques, media archaeology as well as the politics of code. Candidates should also have a new media research agenda. Tasks • Teaching and developing teaching activities both as part of and outside the Media and Culture / New Media programme • (Co-)supervising Bachelor's and Master's theses • Independently conducting research in the area mentioned, resulting in contributions to leading international publications • Co-supervising PhD candidates • Making a contribution to raising contract and indirect funding Requirements • Relevant PhD degree • Experience in research and excellent research skills, evidenced by publications in renowned international professional journals / book form • Teaching experience at the university level and demonstrable didactic abilities and/or training, evidenced by an educational portfolio • Experience with digital and audio-visual equipment; affinity with ICT in academic education • Team spirit and capable of functioning at all levels of more than one study programme • Willingness to develop in a multidisciplinary capacity in order to be able to participate in multiple areas of the Faculty's curriculum • Organisational experience and skills • A candidate with thorough knowledge of Dutch and English is preferred, non-native Dutch speakers must achieve fluency in Dutch within two years Further information Further information about this vacancy can be obtained from Prof. P.P.R.W. Pisters, p.p.r.w.pisters(a)uva.nl, +31 (0) 20 525 4593. Appointment This is a tenure track appointment, which means that the initial appointment will be two years. Depending on teaching evaluations and professional assessment, tenure will be granted after two years. The gross monthly salary will range from €3,195 (scale 11) - €4,970 (scale 12), based on a full-time appointment (38 hours a week). Job application Applications should include a curriculum vitae and should be sent no later than 10 October 2010 to the Universiteit van Amsterdam, to the attention of the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof. J.F.T.M. van Dijck, Spuistraat 210, 1012 VT Amsterdam. Please state the vacancy number in the upper left corner of the envelope. You may also submit your application by e-mail, stating the vacancy number in the subject field: solliciteren2010-fgw(a)uva.nl The selection process will include a trial lecture. Faculty of Humanities The Faculty of Humanities provides education and conducts research with a strongly international profile in a large number of disciplines in the field of language and culture. Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the Faculty maintains close ties with many cultural institutes in the capital city. There are almost 1,000 employees affiliated with the Faculty, which has about 7,500 students. New impulses are required in order to further develop education and research in the field of language and culture into committed humanities. A humanities perspective provides the insight necessary to both understand and steer all sorts of social developments, for example relating to information and communication technology. Therefore, the Faculty of Humanities is looking for academics who can serve as the new generation of lecturers. Candidates are expected to hold a PhD degree and to have a background in the humanities. Outstanding didactic qualities and an affinity with students are required. It is crucial that candidates are able to combine solid research with appealing teaching. Moreover, it goes without saying that they should also be familiar with the latest developments in their field. Furthermore, the new UvA academics will contribute to the Faculty's envisioned expansion and modernisation by bridging the gap between the various disciplines. Consequently, all lecturers must be capable of teaching courses for more then one specific study programme. The Faculty of Humanities offers you the opportunity to collaborate with leading researchers at research institutes that - partly as a result of their multidisciplinary approach - are world-renowned. Moreover, you will be teaching in a dynamic context in which new educational methods are being developed. Together with the other new lecturers you will participate in a comprehensive introductory programme. You will be supervised closely during the first year of your appointment. Additional didactical training is also part of the appointment. Based on the candidate's educational portfolio, previously acquired competences will be taken into consideration. The introductory programme includes earning the 'basic training qualification'.

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