Social data analysis

Social data analysis is a style of analysis in which people work in a social, collaborative context to make sense of data. The term was introduced by Martin Wattenberg in 2005 ^[1]

On a Social Data Analysis system or network, users store data sets and create visual representations. The datasets and visualisations/graphs are accessible to other users of the network or website. Users can create new and interesting visualisations/graphs as well as associated commentary from the same data sets. The discussion mechanisms often use frameworks such as a blog's and wiki's to drive this social exploration/Collaborative intelligence.

This is a new slant on business intelligence where social exploration of data can lead to serious analysis and important insight that the initiating user did not envisage/explore (for whatever reason).

See also

• Data Analysis
• Business intelligence
• Collaborative intelligence

External links

• Social Data Analysis Workshop at CHI 2008
• Designing for Social Data Analysis
• Social Data Analysis Application: Grandstand

References

1. 2005: Baby Names, Visualization, and Social Data Analysis Martin Wattenberg. IEEE Symposium on Information Visualization.