Machine Learning for Sociology

• DOI: 10.31235/osf.io/a6r9g
• Publication Date: 2019-01-09T21:17:41Z
• Authors: Mario Molina; Filiz Garip
• Keywords: Toolbox

Machine learning is a field at the intersection of statistics and computer science that uses algorithms to extract information knowledge from data. Its applications increasingly find their way into economics, political science, sociology. We offer brief introduction this vast toolbox, illustrate its current in social sciences, including distilling measures new data sources, such as text images; characterizing population heterogeneity; improving causal inference, offering predictions aid policy decisions theory development. In addition providing similar use sociology, we argue ML tools can speak long-standing questions on limitations linear modeling framework; criteria for evaluating empirical findings; transparency around context discovery, epistemological core discipline.