41,736 research outputs found

    Sorting a public? Using quali-quantitative methods to interrogate the role of algorithms in digital democracy platforms

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    Following concerns about social media’s role in politics (fostering polarization and spreading disinformation), many activists and civic hackers have developed alternative digital democracy platforms for both deliberation and the representation of public opinion. But how are we to study the role of these platforms, and in particular, their algorithms in the development of issues and the publics that gather around them? This article employs a simple quali-quantitative data visualization to study how a particular digital democracy platform, vTaiwan (an implementation of Pol.is – a tool for generating opinions and consensus about public issues) – formats political participation. We investigate how one particular issue (Uber legalization) was formed and reformed by users, moderators, and algorithms on the vTaiwan platform over time. while the algorithm sorted opinions into a binary of pro and anti-Uber positions, we find that the comments themselves and their sequence suggest more nuanced positions and the potential for dialogue. We argue that vTaiwan may be limited by its focus on simple quantitative data points (positive or negative votes as opposed to the texts themselves) and a forced separation of participants into in-or-out opinion groups. This study contributes to critical algorithm studies and digital democracy studies by offering an effective way to analyse the role of algorithms in democratic politics

    The David W. Fentress Family Letters, 1856-1969

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    Transcript of a letter by an unidentified author to David Fentress regarding sharing federal newspapers and the banning of federal newspapers in some areas. The author passes on the news of the war including the destruction of the Federal merchantmen by the Confederate fleet. He passes along world news: Russia preparing to go to War with Europe and how that could negatively affect the Confederacy. There is also speculation on the future of the war

    TCAT Modulation Sequencer BBC - Supplemental material for Quali-quantitative methods beyond networks: Studying information diffusion on Twitter with the Modulation Sequencer

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    Supplemental material, TCAT Modulation Sequencer BBC for Quali-quantitative methods beyond networks: Studying information diffusion on Twitter with the Modulation Sequencer by David Moats and Erik Borra in Big Data & Society</p

    TCAT Modulation Sequencer Treehugger - Supplemental material for Quali-quantitative methods beyond networks: Studying information diffusion on Twitter with the Modulation Sequencer

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    Supplemental material, TCAT Modulation Sequencer Treehugger for Quali-quantitative methods beyond networks: Studying information diffusion on Twitter with the Modulation Sequencer by David Moats and Erik Borra in Big Data & Society</p

    TCAT Modulation Sequencer RT - Supplemental material for Quali-quantitative methods beyond networks: Studying information diffusion on Twitter with the Modulation Sequencer

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    Supplemental material, TCAT Modulation Sequencer RT for Quali-quantitative methods beyond networks: Studying information diffusion on Twitter with the Modulation Sequencer by David Moats and Erik Borra in Big Data & Society</p

    Portrait of author David Foster at the National Library of Australia, Canberra, 8 June 2011 /

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    Title from acquisitions documentation.; Part of the collection: Portraits of author David Foster at the National Library of Australia, Canberra, 8 June 2011.; Acquired in digital format; access copy available online.; Mode of access: Online.; Photographed by a staff member of the National Library of Australia

    Author David Foster with academic Jeff Doyle at the National Library of Australia, Canberra, 8 June 2011 /

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    Title from acquisitions documentation.; Part of the collection: Portraits of author David Foster at the National Library of Australia, Canberra, 8 June 2011.; Acquired in digital format; access copy available online.; Mode of access: Online.; Photographed by a staff member of the National Library of Australia

    Author David Foster and academic Jeff Doyle at the National Library of Australia, Canberra, 8 June 2011 /

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    Title from acquisitions documentation.; Part of the collection: Portraits of author David Foster at the National Library of Australia, Canberra, 8 June 2011.; Acquired in digital format; access copy available online.; Mode of access: Online.; Photographed by a staff member of the National Library of Australia
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