Big Data in the Psychological Sciences

A student-friendly guide to computational methods and Big Data in psychology.

Cutting-edge computational tools are leading to new discoveries about the human mind. However, these new methods can be intimidating for psychology students. This textbook demonstrates how Big Data is transforming psychology, in an approachable and engaging way, incorporating discussion of theory, application, and ethics.Cutting-edge computational tools like artificial intelligence, data scraping, and online experiments are leading to new discoveries about the human mind. However, these new methods can be intimidating. This textbook demonstrates how Big Data is transforming the field of psychology, in an approachable and engaging way that is geared toward undergraduate students without any computational training. Each chapter covers a hot topic, such as social networks, smart devices, mobile apps, and computational linguistics. Students are introduced to the types of Big Data one can collect, the methods for analyzing such data, and the psychological theories we can address. Each chapter also includes discussion of real-world applications and ethical issues. Supplementary resources include an instructor manual with assignment questions and sample answers, figures and tables, and varied resources for students such as interactive class exercises, experiment demos, articles, and tools.