Day One: Introductions

SDS 237: Data Ethnography

Lindsay Poirier

Exercise

  • Ethnographers often collect more data than they know what to do with
  • Write as much as possible about:
    • what people do/why they do it
    • beliefs/values/expertise
    • social structures
    • questions you are left with

What is ethnography?

  • study of human culture and social relations
  • involves interactions and observations, recording, and analysis
  • data collection methods are predominantly qualitative
  • analysis is predominantly inductive and interpretive

What is data?

What fields of research inform data ethnography?

  • Science and Technology Studies (STS)
    • an interdisciplinary field that examines how science, technology, politics, and culture all co-produce each other
    • STS disciplines include anthropology, sociology, literary studies, political science, economics, and more
    • What might be some examples?
  • Critical Data Studies
    • an interdisciplinary field examining the epistemological, political, social, and ethical aspects of data artifacts, practices, and infrastructures
    • What are some political dimensions of data? Examples?
    • What are some ethical dimensions of data? Examples?
    • Is there a difference?

Who is the professor? Why is an anthropologist teaching data science?

  • Please call me Lindsay (preferred), Professor Poirier, or Dr. Poirier
  • Previously Assistant Professor of Science and Technology Studies at UC Davis
  • Lab Manager at BetaNYC
  • M.S./Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • B.S. in Information Technology and Web Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Dancing, crafting, cooking, re-watching the same TV series over and over again.
  • I have a very spunky dog Madison.
  • I am first generation.

My Pedagogy

  1. Inviting students to question taken-for-granted ideas and discourses
  2. Prioritizing growth in critical thinking and awareness over mastery of concepts
  3. Balancing consistent practice with in-depth engagement
  4. Confronting complex concepts through diverse learning modes
  5. Prioritizing an ability to question/grapple over an ability to resolve/comply

Very quick syllabus review

  • Attendance and Late Arrivals
  • Slack
  • Academic Honesty
  • Grading Contract
    • Deadlines
  • Community Labor
    • Class Notes
  • Well-being
  • Seating

Course Set-up: Google Drive

  1. Create a folder in Google Drive called: [YOUR-NAME-SDS-237]
  2. Share the folder with me (Right click on the folder and Share with lpoirier@smith.edu)
  3. Create a copy of this spreadsheet
  4. Move the spreadsheet into the folder you shared with me
  5. Edit the name in the title to your name

Course Set-up: Slack

  1. Install Slack Desktop on your computer (Mac/Windows)
  2. Log-in using your Smith credentials to access the Smith College workspace
  3. Find the #general SDS-237-01-202501, right click on it, Move Channel > Move to New Section. Name the section SDS 237.
  4. Repeat these steps for the following three channels
  • #random SDS-237-01-202501
  • #sds-237-questions SDS-237-01-202501
  • #sds-237-discussions SDS-237-01-202501

If you want to get email notifications for Slack, click your profile picture > Preferences, scroll the bottom, and check “Send me email notifications for mentions and direct messages”

Homework

  • First reading in Perusall
  • Syllabus Quiz
  • Class notes sign-up; First day of class questionnaire; Trigger warnings form