Kristrún Gunnarsdóttir presented to the Sociology Department at the University of Surrey.
The talk was titled: “Look, we can measure all this stuff! Questions concerning the use of sensors in social research“. It focused on discussing some of the key considerations in bringing sensors and associated technologies into the mix of observational social scientific methods:
The validity of efficiency arguments
* sensors can/should replace surveys?
* more accurate data than self-reporting?
Technical / methodological considerations
* practical problems of installing sensors
* sensor suite assembly and configuration issues
* uncertainty in sensor measurements
Wearability / acceptability issues
* comfort and easiness
* assurances
* motivation
Vulnerabilities
* privacy concerns
* who consents, and to what exactly?
* data and security protection