Computational Social Science Methodology request for proposals

About

This Research Award is now closed

Today billions of people connect with each other and with the world around them through social media. This presents an unprecedented opportunity to advance social science research. This new opportunity also presents a challenge to develop novel tools and techniques with which to tackle the scale and complexity of phenomena which can be observed online.

Facebook is pleased to invite the academic community to respond to a call for research proposals on computational social science methodology. Research awardees will be expected to contribute novel approaches in this space, including but not limited to:

• Network analysis of social systems
• Computational methods to understand information diffusion and conversation
• Computational methods to map and study cultural patterns and dynamics
• Causal inference in social systems
• Measurement of network effects
• Computational approaches to understanding organizations, groups and communities
• Unsupervised approaches to understanding social networks and social phenomena
• Statistical models of network evolution
• Novel techniques for visualization of social network data
• Data privacy in social network data
• Bias and fairness in applications based on social signals
• Social network approaches to information integrity
• Computational models for social networks

This research should propose novel methodology whose application has the potential to unlock novel insights in the social sciences. No Facebook data will be provided to award recipients, and the proposed research need not be about Facebook.

Up to three $50,000 USD gifts will be awarded.

Proposals should include

• A summary of the project (1-2 pages) explaining the area of focus, a description of techniques, any relevant prior work, and a timeline with milestones and expected outcomes
• A draft budget description (1 page) including an approximate cost of the award and explanation of how funds would be spent
• A one-paragraph biography of the principal researchers
• Curriculum Vitae for the principal researchers

Additional information

The submitted projects do not need to be about Facebook, and no Facebook data will be provided to award recipients. Successful proposals will demonstrate innovative and compelling research that has the potential to significantly advance methodology in computational social science, to enable deeper understanding of both fundamental questions in the social sciences and research topics specific to social media.

Timing and dates

• Applications are now closed.
• Notifications will be sent by email to selected applicants in November 2018.