Centre for Social Data Science

Support for research

The Centre for Social Data Science supports the Faculty of Social Sciences in the use of quantitative, digital, and computational research approaches. In addition, its expertise is leveraged at the national level.

Methodological support

We host methodological consultation for researchers and doctoral students at the City Centre Campus of University of Helsinki. We particularly encourage researchers to consult us during the planning stages of their projects, although we can also assist with addressing specific reviewer comments or interpreting outputs, for example:

  • planning research projects
  • collection and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data
  • use of laboratory equipment, cameras, other tools for data collection and analysis
  • visualisation of data and results
  • interpretation of the results

Please note that methodological support does not replace formal training in research methods or engagement with textbooks. In some cases, our role is to guide you in the right direction rather than provide comprehensive instruction.

We are also keen in collaborations where substantive research can be supplemented with methodological reflection and development, either in the scope of a Master thesis or even on research projects.

Please contact us in the early phase of your research to get the most out of our support service.

Operating principiples

The Methods Clinic offers support and consultation at a low threshold, but to a limited extent. The consultation does not always mean solving the problem directly, but often directing the researcher to sources that enable the researcher to solve the problem themselves and support the researcher’s own methodological development.

The service is advisory in nature and the purpose is for researchers to analyze their own data. If an expert provides a significant contribution to a scientific publication, for example in the form of planning, analyses, interpretation of results or writing parts of the publication, it is advisory that they are included as a co-author of the publication.

Infrastructures

We are involved in the infrastructure development for social sciences and humanities through DARIAH-FI , please see tools produced by the infrastucture for more details.

We coordinate access to Statistics Finland remote access system (FIONA) on behalf of the faculty, for more details see intranet .

Expertise