SOC575 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCES
| Course Code: |
2320575 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): |
3(3-0) |
| ECTS Credit: |
8.0 |
| Department: |
Sociology |
| Language of Instruction: |
English |
| Level of Study: |
Graduate |
| Course Coordinator: |
|
| Offered Semester: |
Fall and Spring Semesters. |
Course Content
This course aims to introduce the core ideas and debates of Computational Social Science (CSS)
through a non-technical. theory-driven framework by critically examining how these developments
reshape the ontology and epistemology of social inquiry. Rather than teaching programming or
advanced computational techniques. it provides a conceptual and applied introduction to how
computational methods and digital data reconfigure traditional research design. methodological
reasoning. and theoretical development in the social sciences. The course foregrounds
epistemology. validity. algorithmic bias. and the ethical challenges of big data environments.
Through close reading of foundational texts and discussion of exemplary applied studies. students
critically assess how computational approaches extend. challenge. or transform social theory.
