Category archives: Sociology

Scientific censorship for a greater good?

Scientific censorship for a greater good?

EpistemologyPhilosophy of sciencePsychologySociology

By Invited Researcher

“Censorship” is not a pleasant word to anyone. Its connotations are almost always negative and, in the first instance, an effort should be made to find circumstances that justify a restriction of information. Even more so in the scientific field, where empirical evidence should prevail over authority, tradition, rhetorical eloquence or social prestige. Science seeks […]

Protecting endangered languages feels right, but does it really help people?

Protecting endangered languages feels right, but does it really help people?

LinguisticsSociology

By Invited Researcher

endangered Author: Dave Sayers, Senior Lecturer in Sociolinguistics, University of Jyväskylä / Jyväskylän yliopisto Headlines abound with the plight of endangered minority languages around the world. Read a few of these and you’ll see some common themes: the rising number of languages dying worldwide, the distressing isolation of individual last speakers, and the wider cultural […]

Impact of social networks on adolescents

Impact of social networks on adolescents

PsychologySociology

By Invited Researcher

Social networks Author: Martha R. Villabona works at Subdirección General de Cooperación Territorial e Innovación Educativa of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, where she coordinates the area of multiple literacies. The American Psychological Association (APA) states that the use of social networks is either harmful or beneficial for young people . In […]

How artificial intelligence language models could take over elections

How artificial intelligence language models could take over elections

Computer scienceSociology

By Invited Researcher

artificial intelligence Authors: Archon Fung, Professor of Citizenship and Self-Government, Harvard Kennedy School, and Lawrence Lessig, Professor of Law and Leadership, Harvard University Could organizations use artificial intelligence language models such as ChatGPT to induce voters to behave in specific ways? Sen. Josh Hawley asked OpenAI CEO Sam Altman this question in a May 16 […]

Cyberbullying and media literacy

Cyberbullying and media literacy

Sociology

By Invited Researcher

Evidence suggests that cyberbullying is more widespread among adolescents and young adults than among older people. This type of violence done intentionally using digital devices represents a wide range of online behaviors, such as: name-calling, online impersonation, solicitation for sex, sending coercive text messages, spreading online rumors, inserting offensive comments or isolation for example, being […]

What do you mean? Semantic disagreements as a source of misunderstandings

What do you mean? Semantic disagreements as a source of misunderstandings

LinguisticsSociology

By Invited Researcher

Semantic Author: Juan F. Trillo, PhD in Linguistics and Philosophy (U. Autónoma de Madrid), PhD in Literary Studies (U. Complutense de Madrid). Among the many features that differentiate us from other animals, one of the most striking is our ability to communicate. No other species has developed such an elaborate and effective language for exchanging […]

Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligent Beings: a sociolinguistic approach

Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligent Beings: a sociolinguistic approach

LinguisticsSociology

By Invited Researcher

Author: Juan F. Trillo, PhD in Linguistics and Philosophy (U. Autónoma de Madrid), PhD in Literary Studies (U. Complutense de Madrid). This essay is an excerpt from the paper that will be presented at the IX Jornadas de Divulgación Científica at the city of Medellín, Badajoz (Spain), March 2-5, 2023. The possibility of establishing contact […]

Personality traits and bullying behavior

Personality traits and bullying behavior

PsychologySociology

By Invited Researcher

Over the last decade, research has focused on studying predictive personality traits that may underlie bullying. Two such traits are self-esteem and narcissism. Self-esteem is associated with overall acceptance of oneself, feelings of worthiness and self-confidence. Low self-esteem has long been theorized to be a risk factor for aggression and antisocial behavior . Likewise, the […]

Social networks and risk behaviors of adolescents and young adults

Social networks and risk behaviors of adolescents and young adults

Sociology

By Invited Researcher

Social networks and digital platforms allow adolescents to interact with each other and to develop and maintain positive interpersonal relationships and support networks that are critical in their development. In general, teens benefit from socialization opportunities such as keeping in touch, sharing images, or interchanging ideas. In addition, social networking encourages participation, creative expression, and […]

The dangers of agricultural big data

The dangers of agricultural big data

Computer scienceEconomicsEthicsSociology

By Invited Researcher

Most internet users are by now aware of the vulnerability of their personal data. When the news broke that tech companies misuse and manipulate our personal data, there was a widespread “techlash” against the corporate giants Facebook, Amazon and Google. The explicit motive for data harvesting is the prediction of consumer wants and needs. And […]