Sara Haviland
@sarahaviland.bsky.social
Your friendly neighborhood sociologist. I study education and career pathways. Semi-capable gardener. Opinions are my own.
AI has much promise for research wrt qualitative coding, potentially taking a process that provides a rich source of data but is expensive and time-intensive, and making it more affordable and timelier. BUT we have to keep humans in the loop (and ensure it's humans that we're actually studying).
Can large language models stand in for human participants?
Many social scientists seem to think so, and are already using "silicon samples" in research.
One problem: depending on the analytic decisions made, you can basically get these samples to show any effect you want.
THREAD 🧵
Many social scientists seem to think so, and are already using "silicon samples" in research.
One problem: depending on the analytic decisions made, you can basically get these samples to show any effect you want.
THREAD 🧵
The threat of analytic flexibility in using large language models to simulate human data: A call to attention
Social scientists are now using large language models to create "silicon samples" - synthetic datasets intended to stand in for human respondents, aimed at revolutionising human subjects research. How...
arxiv.org
September 18, 2025 at 2:21 PM
AI has much promise for research wrt qualitative coding, potentially taking a process that provides a rich source of data but is expensive and time-intensive, and making it more affordable and timelier. BUT we have to keep humans in the loop (and ensure it's humans that we're actually studying).
Most folks who have ever taught have a private account for personal stuff. It's an effort to hide from students - including, for example, the one who once figured out my friend's home address and appeared on her front porch to plea for a better grade. Boundaries are healthy, not criminal.
NEW—Rubio issues State Dept. cable instructing enhanced social media vetting for ALL people (students, faculty, etc) seeking travel visas to Harvard under guise of “antisemitism.”
All social media profiles must be public, otherwise seen “as an effort to evade or hide certain activity.”
Full cable:
All social media profiles must be public, otherwise seen “as an effort to evade or hide certain activity.”
Full cable:
May 30, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Most folks who have ever taught have a private account for personal stuff. It's an effort to hide from students - including, for example, the one who once figured out my friend's home address and appeared on her front porch to plea for a better grade. Boundaries are healthy, not criminal.
Looks like that flight from Akron to Fort Lauderdale is about to get pretty popular.
The ongoing crisis at Newark Airport has put a spotlight on the nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers. As of May 7, only two of 313 facilities met staffing targets set by the FAA and the union representing controllers, according to an analysis by The New York Times. nyti.ms/4mqoUYe
May 16, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Looks like that flight from Akron to Fort Lauderdale is about to get pretty popular.
💯 This is a critical moment for science in the US: as we lose the ability to take public support for granted, we must do a better job of demonstrating the value of publicly-funded research in translational ways. Let's all think creatively about how to engage.
Ready to crank it up a notch: Open your lab to the public! This can be virtual or IRL!
May 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
💯 This is a critical moment for science in the US: as we lose the ability to take public support for granted, we must do a better job of demonstrating the value of publicly-funded research in translational ways. Let's all think creatively about how to engage.
For folks affected by the NSF cuts - glad to see Spencer, Kapor, William T. Grant, and Alfred P. Sloan collaborate on bridge grants to help people thoughtfully and gracefully wind down their projects. Let's keep the science moving forward - even as we figure out the new pathways.
Meeting the Moment Together
We are returning from the AERA Annual Meeting in Denver reinvigorated and with a deep appreciation for all that scholars and higher education leaders are holding in this moment. Rapid shifts in fed...
www.spencer.org
May 7, 2025 at 3:48 PM
For folks affected by the NSF cuts - glad to see Spencer, Kapor, William T. Grant, and Alfred P. Sloan collaborate on bridge grants to help people thoughtfully and gracefully wind down their projects. Let's keep the science moving forward - even as we figure out the new pathways.
Sometimes it is hard for the general public to follow the inside baseball of the US research system - we need more pieces like this, please. (also, this is the stuff that makes a #GDTBATH)
Great to see this op-ed by UNC System President Peter Hans on WHY the federal government funds research through competitive grants. #HigherEd
Hans: Research as a patriotic bargain - Public Ed Works
By Peter Hans President, University of North Carolina System RALEIGH (May 1, 2025) – For more than 70 years, federal funding for university research has been a patriotic bargain and a core driver of n...
publicedworks.org
May 1, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Sometimes it is hard for the general public to follow the inside baseball of the US research system - we need more pieces like this, please. (also, this is the stuff that makes a #GDTBATH)
Reposted by Sara Haviland
I keep coming across new lists of education research (and adjacent) job opportunities so if you are looking for work, check out these links. 👇
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
www.purposephilcareer.com
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
www.purposephilcareer.com
April 25, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I keep coming across new lists of education research (and adjacent) job opportunities so if you are looking for work, check out these links. 👇
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
www.purposephilcareer.com
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
www.purposephilcareer.com
As a sociologist and third generation Levittowner, this one hits hard. What a life and legacy. Thank you, Dr. Gans.
Herbert J. Gans, groundbreaking sociologist and the 78th President of the American Sociological Association, passed away on April 21. His work included unpacking misconceptions about poverty, class, urban renewal, & suburban malaise. bit.ly/42rxgXq
MSN
bit.ly
April 24, 2025 at 1:42 AM
As a sociologist and third generation Levittowner, this one hits hard. What a life and legacy. Thank you, Dr. Gans.
Reposted by Sara Haviland
Reposted by Sara Haviland
The thing about scientific research is that it’s one of the few national investments that’s a clear public good even if you entirely discount the actual ostensible point of it.
New report shows that NIH grants fueled $95 billion in economic activity and 407,782 jobs in 2024.
That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved.
Show me a better investment than that.
www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved.
Show me a better investment than that.
www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
NIH Grants Fueled $95 Billion In FY 2024 Economic Activity, Finds New Report
National Institutes of Health grants generated almost $95 billion in economic activity nationwide in FY 2024 according to a new report by United for Medical Research.
www.forbes.com
March 13, 2025 at 2:36 AM
The thing about scientific research is that it’s one of the few national investments that’s a clear public good even if you entirely discount the actual ostensible point of it.
Reposted by Sara Haviland
#Communitycollege #sociology faculty-did you know we have a new Community for ASA members who teach (or are interested in teaching) at CC’s? You can join a Community with no extra fee through the member’s portal. www.asanet.org/communities-... @asanews.bsky.social
Communities | American Sociological Association
ASA Communities are a member-generated organizational structure approved by the Council on the recommendation of the ASA Task Force on Membership. Communities
www.asanet.org
January 31, 2025 at 3:35 PM
#Communitycollege #sociology faculty-did you know we have a new Community for ASA members who teach (or are interested in teaching) at CC’s? You can join a Community with no extra fee through the member’s portal. www.asanet.org/communities-... @asanews.bsky.social
Organizational sociology is often concerned with organizational disasters and malfeasance. I've thought about that a lot this weekend watching the DC crash unfold (pro-tip for journalists: someone get Diane Vaughan into an interview, stat). This is going to be complicated... 1/5
January 31, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Organizational sociology is often concerned with organizational disasters and malfeasance. I've thought about that a lot this weekend watching the DC crash unfold (pro-tip for journalists: someone get Diane Vaughan into an interview, stat). This is going to be complicated... 1/5
Very important conversation at Brookings as we pass the first 24 hours of Trump 2.0.
The future of the US Department of Education www.brookings.edu/events/the-f...
The future of the US Department of Education www.brookings.edu/events/the-f...
The future of the US Department of Education
Join Brookings for a webinar to discuss the future of the U.S. Department of Education under the incoming administration.
www.brookings.edu
January 21, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Very important conversation at Brookings as we pass the first 24 hours of Trump 2.0.
The future of the US Department of Education www.brookings.edu/events/the-f...
The future of the US Department of Education www.brookings.edu/events/the-f...
One snow dog and one southern belle.
January 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM
One snow dog and one southern belle.
@bstabler.bsky.social June the hen contemplates a new winter-friendly watering hole.
January 14, 2025 at 1:12 AM
@bstabler.bsky.social June the hen contemplates a new winter-friendly watering hole.
Tough news for college enrollment - seems the 2025 enrollment cliff is arriving ahead of schedule.
Fewer 18-year-olds enrolled in college this fall
New data shows enrollment among 18-year-old freshmen dropped this year. Some higher ed experts say last year’s botched FAFSA rollout is at least partly to blame.
www.insidehighered.com
December 3, 2024 at 7:24 PM
Tough news for college enrollment - seems the 2025 enrollment cliff is arriving ahead of schedule.