DSOC 27A20 - Mind, Media and Manipulation in Digital Societies

In this seminar, we will examine the contemporary landscape of media manipulation and information influence. In doing so, we will engage with both opinion pieces and empirical research on these phenomena. This is necessarily an interdisciplinary endeavor. The reason for this is two-fold: First, this area of research is still rapidly evolving and we have to draw from diverse sources to find high-quality works. Second, the phenomena themselves require us to draw on insights from multiple fields, including cognitive science, network science, sociology, and politics. We will therefore also regularly engage with reports and articles from news outlets, tabloids, and blogs.

Academic expectations

This seminar is suitable for students interested in the recent phenomena of misinformation and related processes. Familiarity with reading quantitative research is helpful but not needed. We will read and think through related research from a variety of fields, including cognitive science, psychology, information science, and sociology. Willingness to think, engage, and argue is indispensable.

• Attend and participate in class. Participation will count towards your final grade.
• Each week, one group of students will provide a brief overview of the readings and prepare questions to kick-start and lead the discussion during the session. The goal of the discussion is to work through and critically reflect upon the main arguments/empirics of the readings.
• Complete 4 tasks to get you thinking about the material in an active way. These tasks are due on Sunday, 12:00pm before the session in question.