Module 2: Processes of Data
Topic 1: The Increasing Datafication of Society
Rationalisation: the tendency in modern societies to organise life around reason,
logic, and efficiency. Eg: employee performance is tracked using digital tools that
record metrics such as hours worked, tasks completed and sales figures. This
process transforms complex human activities, such as collaboration, creativity, and
problem solving, into quantifiable data points that can be analysed to improve
efficiency and productivity.
Objectivation is the process of turning subjective or complex experiences into
objects that can be observed, measured, and manipulated. For example, human
emotions, which were once viewed as personal, internal experiences, are now
increasingly understood through data points like heart rate, facial expressions, or
social media activity.
Rationalisation and objectivation provided the philosophical and practical
foundations for the datafication of the world.
Quantification: with rationalisation and objectification came the increasing
quantification of the world, converting complex and qualitative aspects of
reality into measurable numerical data. In the modern era, quantification
became a key method for organising knowledge, understanding the world, and
making decisions.
Computerisation: As the process of quantification advanced, the rise of
computerization took datafication to a new level. But computerisation was not
just about handling more data – it also transformed how we think about and
interact with data. One of the key aspects of computerisation is the
algorithmisation of processes.
Algorithms are sets of rules or instructions that computers follow to solve
problems or perform tasks, and algorithmisation is a central driver of
datafication.
Topic 2: The Social Processes of Data Production
Division of labour
Tradition
Conventions and Standards
Power relations
Topic 3: The Impact of Cultural Techniques on Data
Cultural techniques entail the basic skills and complex systems that societies use
to manage their environment, communicate and understand the world. These
techniques encompass physical activities such as farming and construction, as well as
symbolic practices like writing and data processing. These techniques evolve over
time, shaping human thought, social relationships and institutions.
Nowadays, cultural techniques also encompass digital processes that influence the
way we interact with technology. Data practices, such as collecting, organising and
analysing data, affect everything from governance to our daily use of smartphones. As
with earlier cultural techniques, data practices are influenced by social, political and
economic factors. Studying these techniques reveals how everyday actions such as
writing, measuring or navigating digital systems actively shape society,
demonstrating the deep connection between technology, culture and human thought.