Digital societies research group

Exploring developments in digital data, information and knowledge within socio-cultural and political-economic contexts and their implications for social justice.

Key projects

AI, machine learning, automation and robotics in the information professions
: cultures of data mining in science, education and the arts
VOICES: The Value of Openness, Inclusion, Communication, and Engagement for Science in a post-pandemic world
: knowledge, experiences and perceptions of data practices

We explore from a critical perspective developments in digital data, information and knowledge, how they are constituted within wider socio-cultural and political economic contexts and the implications for social justice.

As a group, we engage with the production, role and implications of data and information in contemporary issues such as citizen creativity, scholarly innovation, learning, scientific innovation and public health. We offer critical reflection on the possibilities and politics of studying society through “big data”, including data from social media, health information systems or self-tracking. We participate in the growing field of Research on Research

We develop theoretically informed and methodologically innovative research on data, information and knowledge in digital societies. We draw on diverse theoretical influences including practice theory, innovation diffusion theory, social informatics, and critical data & algorithmic studies.

We are involved in projects using a range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies including data mining, co-production, (digital) ethnography and visual research methods.

We are an outward-looking group of researchers, keen to develop further our high impact collaborations with organisations and practitioners outside academia, as well as to forge creative interdisciplinary connections with other researchers.

Within 91̽�� we are part of the Faculty of Social Sciences Digital Society Network.

We are also members as a group of the .

Key research interests

The socio-cultural and political economic aspects of data and algorithms with a current focus on education, scientific, cultural, health, climate and research data
Debates around the responsible application of AI in specific contexts, such as Higher Education and the work of information professionals
The changing nature and role of scholarship in contemporary society, particularly discourses, practices and policies around scholarly communication and openness, in the context of research on research
The relationship between data, information and well-being
Socio-material dynamics of data journeys and data friction
Cultures of data science practice, including values, beliefs and emotions
Self tracking citizen cultures and issues around privacy, preservation etc

Projects and research areas

See details of our projects below.

Group members

Click any of the names to view their contact details.

Academic staff

Dr Jo Bates (Head of Group)

Professor Stephen Pinfield

Dr Lee Pretlove

Dr Xin Zhao

Research staff

Dr Itzelle Medina Perea

Dr Helen Woods

Dr Monika Fratczak

PhD researchers

Bayan Alasmari

Hadley Beresford (SMI)

Cassie Cao

Rosie Higman

Anajoyce Katabalwa

Chisenga Muyoya (Geography)

Ian Widdows

Laura Williams

Engagement and impact

Members of the group have been involved in a number of national and international initiatives including advising policymakers and inputting into expert fora.

Other activities have included consultancy for commercial and public organisations, and media contributions. Recent examples of such activities include working with Parliamentary select committees, involvement in drafting national policy documentation, and working with local authorities.

We have worked with organisations including the Russell Group, Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC), BBC, Department for Work and Pensions, GlaxoSmithKline.

We have also made contributions to wider public engagement including media contributions to BBC radio programmes, the Conversation, Times Higher Education, LSE Impact blog, and organising public events as part of Festival of the Mind and the ESRC Festival of Social Science.

Impact case studies

Andrew Cox was awarded Information Manager of the year award in 2021 for his significant contribution to enhancing the value and impact of knowledge and information management in the workplace and across the LIS sector. Read .

Stephen Pinfield’s research on Open Access was selected as a REF impact case study for the Information School’s 2020 REF submission. Read more here.

Susan Oman founded the (CDRN) following AHRC-funded research in and with the cultural sector (read an interview with Susan about this research and its outputs ). CDRN is a network of researchers and data practitioners in the cultural sector. CDRN aims to strengthen data skills and research practice within the sector by providing members with a forum to exchange experiences, share best practice, debate current issues and form new collaborative partnerships.

Funders

Research carried out within this group is funded by a wide range of organisations

European Commission Horizon 2020 and Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)
Universities UK
Knowledge Exchange
SCONUL
Wellcome
Nuffield Foundation
HEIF
Society for Research into Higher Education
CILIP