Spark Newsletter: October 28, 2021

Register now - Algorithmically-Encoded Identities 

Plan to join us for a free virtual workshop with members of Google's Ethical AI team. 

November 19th 2021 & December 3rd 2021
10:30 am -12:00 pm EST.  

On November 19th, Alex, Dylan and Emily will give an introductory talk discussing the ways in which classification is an infrastructure and technology of power.  Considering the fundamental role of classification in AI, they explore the implications for embedded social inequality. 

December 3rd will be our turn. As participants, we will engage in three exercises that interrogate existing classification practices.  These scenarios will help us relate to creating, navigating, and reflecting on the use of classification systems in public life.

Because the December 3rd session is virtually 'hands-on' we will be limiting the number of participants, approving registration requests as they come in, with priority to McMaster faculty, staff and students.

Presenters:
Alex Hanna is a sociologist and senior research scientist working on the Ethical AI team at Google. Before that, she was an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information and Technology at the University of Toronto.
 
Dylan Baker is a software engineer on the Ethical AI team at Google, focusing on the ethics of human computation and data labeling in machine learning infrastructure.
 
Emily Denton is a research scientist on the Ethical AI team at Google. Prior to joining Google, Emily received their PhD in computer science from NYU.

Pre-registration: Qualitative Coding in NVivo

Spark is organizing a practical, hands-on training in using NVivo for qualitative coding.  Led by Noelle Wyman-Roth of Duke University's Social Sciences Research Institute, this training is meant to serve as a bridge from beginner practices through to effective team coding, best practice node management, and the integration of inductive and deductive methods.  Get a sense of her teaching from great ModU YouTube videos.  To gauge interest and make some final decisions about timing and content, we'd like to hear from those interested. 

Pre-Register Here (no commitment)

Spark's Open House "toolkit" sessions now available on MacVideo

On September 24th, Spark: a centre for social research innovation held its annual Open House Event.

Sessions by Michelle Dion and Allison Van introduced 6 social research toolkits including: Qualitative and Community Based Research, Quantitative Methods, Complex Systems, Computational Social Science, Knowledge Mobilization, and Research Quality. 

Missed it? Want to share a helpful session with a colleague or student? Check out all of the sessions on Spark's MacVideo Channel.

Join Spark on Fridays at 10:30-11:20am for a weekly "Spark Talk" focused on methods and tools of social research. Spark Talks features an innovative speaker and encourages unexpected and inter-disciplinary connections between researchers, including faculty and graduate students. Learn more about upcoming Spark events at spark.mcmaster.ca/events

October 29th,  10:30- 11:20
Transparency and positionality in qualitative team coding. 
Dr. Victoria Reyes
Register here

November 5th,  10:30- 11:20
Systematic Social Observation of Civil Society
Dr. Matthew Baggetta
Register here

November 12th,  10:30- 11:20
Getting started with computational social research
Dr. Sarah Shugars
Register here

In case you missed it:

Emotional Piano Project
Dr. Michael Schutz
Check it out here:

Looking to pool software licences?

Now you can! Fill out this form and we will reach out if we can match you with others looking to pool licences.

We are also attempting a pilot in fall term allowing for virtual desktop access to several licenses for major Qualitative Data Analysis software, and will be seeking volunteers to test out the viability of this option.  FSS faculty, please email talk.to.spark@mcmaster.ca if you're interested in participating.  

Research Conversations

We provide up to 4 hours of free support each year to all McMaster researchers (students, staff and faculty) on every social research topic imaginable.  If we can't help you, we'll help you find someone who can.   

Qualtrics Licences

If you are an FSS researcher who would like to request access to Qualtrics survey software, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/Gn2KvYgdebjo8d2W8.

Brighter Spark Applied Research

Spark offers custom research and evaluation, as well as highly skilled assistance in implementing virtually any social research method. Our cost-recovery services include methods and software training, custom research, state-of-the-art facilities, and taking on elements of your project to support its completion.