From Calculations to Reasoning: History, Trends and the Potential of Computational Ethnography and Computational Social Anthropology

IF 3 2区社会学 Q2 COMPUTER SCIENCE, INTERDISCIPLINARY APPLICATIONS

Social Science Computer Review Pub Date : 2023-04-12 DOI:10.1177/08944393231167692

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引用次数: 1

Abstract

The domains of computational social anthropology and computational ethnography refer to the computational processing or computational modelling of data for anthropological or ethnographic research. In this context, the article surveys the use of computational methods regarding the production and the representation of knowledge. The ultimate goal of the study is to highlight the significance of modelling ethnographic data and anthropological knowledge by harnessing the potential of the semantic web. The first objective was to review the use of computational methods in anthropological research focusing on the last 25 years, while the second objective was to explore the potential of the semantic web focusing on existing technologies for ontological representation. For these purposes, the study explores the use of computers in anthropology regarding data processing and data modelling for more effective data processing. The survey reveals that there is an ongoing transition from the instrumentalisation of computers as tools for calculations, to the implementation of information science methodologies for analysis, deduction, knowledge representation, and reasoning, as part of the research process in social anthropology. Finally, it is highlighted that the ecosystem of the semantic web does not subserve quantification and metrics but introduces a new conceptualisation for addressing and meeting research questions in anthropology.

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从计算到推理:计算人种学和计算社会人类学的历史、趋势和潜力

计算社会人类学和计算民族志的领域是指用于人类学或民族志研究的数据的计算处理或计算建模。在这种情况下，本文调查了关于知识的生产和表示的计算方法的使用。这项研究的最终目标是通过利用语义网的潜力来强调对民族志数据和人类学知识建模的重要性。第一个目标是回顾过去25年来在人类学研究中使用的计算方法，而第二个目标是探索语义网的潜力，重点关注现有的本体论表示技术。出于这些目的，本研究探讨了在人类学中使用计算机进行数据处理和数据建模，以实现更有效的数据处理。调查显示，作为社会人类学研究过程的一部分，计算机作为计算工具的工具化正在向信息科学方法的分析、演绎、知识表示和推理的实施转变。最后，本文强调了语义网的生态系统并不支持量化和度量，而是为解决和满足人类学研究问题引入了一种新的概念化。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Social Science Computer Review 社会科学-计算机：跨学科应用

CiteScore

9.00

自引率

4.90%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Unique Scope Social Science Computer Review is an interdisciplinary journal covering social science instructional and research applications of computing, as well as societal impacts of informational technology. Topics included: artificial intelligence, business, computational social science theory, computer-assisted survey research, computer-based qualitative analysis, computer simulation, economic modeling, electronic modeling, electronic publishing, geographic information systems, instrumentation and research tools, public administration, social impacts of computing and telecommunications, software evaluation, world-wide web resources for social scientists. Interdisciplinary Nature Because the Uses and impacts of computing are interdisciplinary, so is Social Science Computer Review. The journal is of direct relevance to scholars and scientists in a wide variety of disciplines. In its pages you''ll find work in the following areas: sociology, anthropology, political science, economics, psychology, computer literacy, computer applications, and methodology.