COMPLEX-IT: A Case-Based Modelling and Scenario Simulation Platform for Social Inquiry

Corey Schimpf; Brian Castellani

doi:10.5334/jors.298

Abstract

COMPLEX-IT is a case-based, mixed-methods platform for applied social inquiry into complex data/systems, designed to increase non-expert access to the tools of computational social science (i.e., cluster analysis, artificial intelligence, data visualization, data forecasting, and scenario simulation). In particular, COMPLEX-IT aids applied social inquiry though a heavy emphasis on learning about the complex data/system under study, which it does by (a) identifying and forecasting major and minor clusters/trends; (b) visualizing their complex causality; and (c) simulating scenarios for potential interventions. COMPLEX-IT is accessible through the web or can be run locally and is powered by R and the Shiny web framework.

Funding statement: COMPLEX-IT was developed with support from the grants received by CECAN, namely, Economic and Social Research Council (grant numbers: ES/N012550/1 and ES/S000402/1). Funding was also received from Durham University via the ESRC pathways to impact grant.

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COMPLEX-IT: A Case-Based Modelling and Scenario Simulation Platform for Social Inquiry

Abstract

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