Foundations and Applications of Cultural Analytics in the Humanities

FAIN: HT-272418-20

Princeton University (Princeton, NJ 08540-5228)
David B. Kinney (Project Director: February 2020 to June 2023)
Meredith Anne Martin (Project Director: June 2023 to present)
Simon DeDeo (Co Project Director: July 2020 to present)

An online course on computational and quantitative methods for cultural analysis of large-scale digital sources to be followed by more advanced in-person workshops for early career scholars.

The use of computational and quantitative tools and approaches in the humanities is rapidly becoming more widespread. At the same time, there are still significant barriers preventing emerging scholars in the humanities from using these tools to generate new insights that make a genuine impact within the humanities themselves. The goal of our proposed advanced institute is to develop an online course and in-person workshop that will empower scholars in the humanities by eliminating the "black box" of computational text analysis. Participants will gain a theoretical and practical understanding of text analysis methods and the interpretation of their outputs. As such, participants will be able to extract content and derive meaning from the growing archives of digital sources, making accessible new directions in humanities scholarship. The in-person workshop in particular will be the springboard for collaborations between the next generation of analytically-inclined humanities scholars.

Media Coverage

Morning Word (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Julia Goldberg
Publication: Santa Fe Reporter
Date: 1/6/2021
Abstract: As part of an overall roundup of interesting news stories, the Santa Fe Reporter covered a recent KUNM podcast on which the PI and co-PI appeared to discuss our project in Foundations and Applications of Humanities Analytics.
URL: https://www.sfreporter.com/news/morningword/2021/01/06/sfpd-says-summons-not-received-in-obelisk-case/

Advanced Humanities Insitute (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Ellen Dornan and Craig Goldsmith
Publication: Augmented Humanities Podcast
Date: 1/4/2021
Abstract: The PI and co-PI recorded a four-part series of podcasts discussing their work on Foundations and Applications of Humanities Analytics for Augmented Humanities, a KUNM/NPR podcast.
URL: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/811625591/augmented-humanity

"Have You No Humanities?" (Media Coverage)
Publication: Parallax (the Santa Fe Institute's Newsletter)
Date: 10/6/2020
Abstract: Coverage of the grant award on the Santa Fe Institute's website and newsletter.
URL: https://www.santafe.edu/news-center/news/have-you-no-humanities

Associated Products

Foundations and Applications of Humanities Analytics, the online course (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: Foundations and Applications of Humanities Analytics, the online course
Author: David Kinney
Author: Simon DeDeo
Author: Carrie Cowan
Abstract: The Foundations & Applications of Humanities Analytics course is aimed at a broad range of humanities scholars. The course aims to empower scholars in the humanities by eliminating the “black box” of computational text analysis. Participants will gain a theoretical and practical understanding of text analysis methods, and will learn how to extract content and derive meaning from digital sources, enabling new humanities scholarship. The online course will interweave lectures and assignments that impart a foundational and philosophical understanding of humanities analytics techniques with those that apply this foundational understanding to real-world data sets arising in literary, cultural, and political contexts. Supplementary resources will introduce the necessary steps to get started with Python programming and Jupyter notebooks, though programming skills will not be taught – or required – during the course.
Year: 2021
Primary URL: https://www.complexityexplorer.org/
Primary URL Description: Homepage of the Complexity Explorer Website. You can access the online humanities course by logging into the complexity explorer website. Use the following username and passcode to view the course: email: NEH@email.edu password: NEH.ODH.iatdh
Secondary URL: N/A
Secondary URL Description: N/A
Audience: General Public

GitHub Repository (Database/Archive/Digital Edition)
Title: GitHub Repository
Author: Stephanie Buongiorno, David Kinney
Abstract: Repository containing code used for the Foundations and Applications of Humanities Analytics in-person workshop at the Santa Fe Institute.
Year: 2022
Primary URL: https://github.com/stephbuon/faha
Access Model: Open Access

---