Constructing Crime in a Database: Big Data and the Mangle of Social Problems Work

This paper argues for programmatic change within social constructionist approaches to social problems by attending to materiality in the theoretical conception of social context. To illustrate how this might be done, we place the interplay between social problems construction and technology (what we...

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Veröffentlicht in:Qualitative sociology review : QSR Jg. 11; H. 2; S. 180 - 195
Hauptverfasser: Sanders, Carrie B., Christensen, Tony, Weston, Crystal
Format: Journal Article
Sprache:Englisch
Veröffentlicht: Lodz Uniwersytet Lodzki, Wydzial Ekonomiczno-Socjologiczny, Instytut Socjol 01.04.2015
Schlagworte:
Algorithms
Big Data
Constructionism
Crime
Data analysis
Data base management
Intelligence
Materialism
Problem solving
Social environment
Social problems
Social psychology
Sociology
ISSN:1733-8077, 1733-8077
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Abstract This paper argues for programmatic change within social constructionist approaches to social problems by attending to materiality in the theoretical conception of social context. To illustrate how this might be done, we place the interplay between social problems construction and technology (what we refer to as the mangle of social problems work) at its center by examining how the advent of “big data” is impacting the construction of social problems. Using the growing field of intelligence-led policing (ILP) as our illustrative example, we will examine four effects the large scale collection and analysis of data has on the way social problems claims are made. We begin by arguing that big data offers a new method by which putative problems are discovered and legitimized. We then explore how large data sets and algorithmic data analysis are increasingly used for predicting future problems. Following this, we illustrate how big data is used to construct and implement solutions to future problems. Lastly, we use the interplay between big data and those who use it to illustrate “the mangle of social problems work,” where data is made meaningful and actionable through the interpretive and analytic processes of analysts and police officers.
AbstractList This paper argues for programmatic change within social constructionist approaches to social problems by attending to materiality in the theoretical conception of social context. To illustrate how this might be done, we place the interplay between social problems construction and technology (what we refer to as the mangle of social problems work) at its center by examining how the advent of 'big data' is impacting the construction of social problems. Using the growing field of intelligence-led policing (ILP) as our illustrative example, we will examine four effects the large scale collection and analysis of data has on the way social problems claims are made. We begin by arguing that big data offers a new method by which putative problems are discovered and legitimized. We then explore how large data sets and algorithmic data analysis are increasingly used for predicting future problems. Following this, we illustrate how big data is used to construct and implement solutions to future problems. Lastly, we use the interplay between big data and those who use it to illustrate 'the mangle of social problems work,' where data is made meaningful and actionable through the interpretive and analytic processes of analysts and police officers. Reprinted by permission of the Qualitative Sociology Review
This paper argues for programmatic change within social constructionist approaches to social problems by attending to materiality in the theoretical conception of social context. To illustrate how this might be done, we place the interplay between social problems construction and technology (what we refer to as the mangle of social problems work) at its center by examining how the advent of big data is impacting the construction of social problems. Using the growing eld of intelligence-led policing (ILP) as our illustrative example, we will examine four eects the large scale collection and analysis of data has on the way social problems claims are made. We begin by arguing that big data oers a new method by which putative problems are discovered and legitimized. We then explore how large data sets and algorithmic data analysis are increasingly used for predicting future problems. Following this, we illustrate how big data is used to construct and implement solutions to future problems. Lastly, we use the interplay between big data and those who use it to illustrate the mangle of social problems work, where data is made meaningful and actionable through the interpretive and analytic processes of analysts and police officers.
This paper argues for programmatic change within social constructionist approaches to social problems by attending to materiality in the theoretical conception of social context. To illustrate how this might be done, we place the interplay between social problems construction and technology (what we refer to as the mangle of social problems work) at its center by examining how the advent of “big data” is impacting the construction of social problems. Using the growing field of intelligence-led policing (ILP) as our illustrative example, we will examine four effects the large scale collection and analysis of data has on the way social problems claims are made. We begin by arguing that big data offers a new method by which putative problems are discovered and legitimized. We then explore how large data sets and algorithmic data analysis are increasingly used for predicting future problems. Following this, we illustrate how big data is used to construct and implement solutions to future problems. Lastly, we use the interplay between big data and those who use it to illustrate “the mangle of social problems work,” where data is made meaningful and actionable through the interpretive and analytic processes of analysts and police officers.
Author Weston, Crystal
Christensen, Tony
Sanders, Carrie B.
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crossref_primary_10_1080_17440572_2017_1323637
crossref_primary_10_1016_j_techfore_2020_120300
crossref_primary_10_1177_14613557231166225
crossref_primary_10_1080_10439463_2022_2029433
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SubjectTerms Algorithms
Big Data
Constructionism
Crime
Data analysis
Data base management
Intelligence
Materialism
Problem solving
Social environment
Social problems
Social psychology
Sociology
Title Constructing Crime in a Database: Big Data and the Mangle of Social Problems Work
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