Data and Society

The standard teaching text for Data and Society modules explaining to undergraduates, in different social-science disciplines, the Big Data Revolution in an accessible and critical way.

Data and Society: A Critical Introduction investigates the growing importance of data as a technological, social, economic and scientific resource. It explains how data practices have come to underpin all aspects of human life and explores what this means for those directly involved in handling data.

The book

• fosters informed debate over the role of data in contemporary society
• explains the significance of data as evidence beyond the "Big Data" hype
• spans the technical, sociological, philosophical and ethical dimensions of data
• provides guidance on how to use data responsibly
• includes data stories that provide concrete cases and discussion questions.

Grounded in examples spanning genetics, sport and digital innovation, this book fosters insight into the deep interrelations between technical, social and ethical aspects of data work.