Domain research
Domain Co-Leaders: Dr Char-lee McLennan and Associate Professor Viet Ngu (Vincent) Hoang
The Social Systems domain encompasses data science research focused on the patterned networks of relationships involving individuals, groups and institutions. We define institutions broadly to encompass all collective human-mediated action, such as government, policies, strategies, law, companies, not-for-profit organisations, business or industry norms, social norms, cultural beliefs or the general patterns of consumer behaviour.
Some examples of research undertaken within our domain include data privacy and transparency, information disorder (e.g. mis- and dis-information), social and political movements, controversial societal issues (like anti-vaccination), social polarisation, social progress, community resilience, decent work, innovation and entrepreneurship, education, emerging industry clusters, evidence-based decision-making, strategy tracking, the adoption of sustainability, diversity and social good causes, computer-human interaction and the social-technical divide. Data science tools we draw on include causal testing, cluster analysis, multiple imputation, real-time trend tracking, bibliometrics and text data mining, sentiment analysis, network science, and micro-data analysis.
While our domain is broad, we do have core strengths in cybersecurity, social network analysis, bibliometrics, text mining and social media analytics. We have synergies and connections across QUT into areas of strategic investment such as QUT Entrepreneurship, the Centre for Future Enterprise, the Centre for Decent Work, the Behavioural Economics Group, and the Digital Media Research Centre. We have strong links into government and industry, working with organisations like DSDTI, LGAQ, Councils, Human Services, Foreign Affairs, Defence, Science and Technology, the Australia Institute, and the Centre for Responsible Technology. We host regular social good datathons and support internships to translate our work into tackling real world problems.
Associate Investigators
- Dr Thirunavukarasu Balasubramaniam
- Dr Steve Bickley
- Professor Margot Brereton
- Associate Professor Susanna Cramb
- Professor Kevin Desouza
- Dr Tobias Fischer
- Associate Professor Timothy Graham
- Associate Professor Viet Ngu Hoang
- Dr Bernadette Hyland-Wood
- Dr Sangeetha Kutty
- Dr Yulin Liu
- Dr Ryan McAndrew
- Associate Professor Char-lee McLennan
- Professor Divya Mehta
- Distinguished Professor Kerrie Mengersen
- Dr Kath O'Brien
- Associate Professor Dimitri Perrin
- Associate Professor Dipa Sarkar
- Associate Professor Laurianne Sitbon
- Professor Niko Suenderhauf
- Associate Professor Connie Susilawati
- Associate Professor Helen Thompson
- Dr Ayesha Tulloch
- Dr Kellie Vella
- Professor Patrik Wikstrom
- Dr Alan Woodley
- Dr Jinglan Zhang