The project brings two research institutes together for a collaborative continuation of two existing studies that initiate new directions in qualitative research and data visualization. The Department of Communication & Cultural Management at Zeppelin University in Germany has collected and analyzed a big data set for a study on Places of Excellence, a field research project comparing internationally leading master programs in the fields of Cultural Management, Cultural Policy und Cultural Production in regards to historic contexts of MA and BA programs, pedagogy, ‘employability’ in the arts and culture sector and scientific education in the creative field. The study was conducted between 2013 and 2014 and generated 54 interview transcripts (appr. 1200 pages) and a big data set of field notes of participant observation at academic institutions in three countries. Research projects in the Humanities often depend on big amounts of qualitative data and generate more data in form of data analysis, publications and reports. Parsons Institute for Information Mapping at The New School in New York founded a Lab for Qualitative Data Visualization with the aim to develop generic open source software tools that allow a visualization of qualitative data analysis. Data management and data access in visual modes that help develop and communicate scientific results in the humanities in a more accessible way is one of the main focuses for the research lab. Bringing these two research projects together in collaboration allows developing new methods in qualitative data analysis in visual ways with a data set of a relevant tangible applied field study. The collaboration between the research team at the Department of Communication & Cultural Management at Zeppelin University and the research Lab for Qualitative Data Visualization at Parsons Institute of Information Mapping at The New School will develop open source software that allows researchers beyond this project to work with data visualization in the field of qualitative inquiry. Qualitative Data Visualization in the Humanities is a new field and the explorative and interdisciplinary nature of the project will develop new methods and modes of analysis through workshops, seminars and hackathons online and in the participating institutions. Elevating established methods for qualitative data analysis to a contemporary level in current data analysis and data visualization is the overall aim of this project.
In Zusammenarbeit mit: Jihoon Kang, Associate Director of Parsons Institute for Information Mapping at The New School, New York Anne Luther, Founder of the Qualitative Data Visualization Lab at Parsons Parsons Institute for Information Mapping at The New School, New York; and PhD candidate at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London.