Exploring Migration Patterns Using Digital Trace Data

Lilongwe, Malawi, 21 May 2024 

 

Workshop organizers:  Carolina Coimbra Vieira and Ebru Şanlıtürk, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR).


 

The workshop on “Exploring Migration Patterns Using Digital Trace Data” organized by Carolina Coimbra Vieira and Ebru Şanlıtürk under the auspices of the IUSSP Scientific Panel on Digital and Computational Demography at the 9th African Population Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi was a great success! In total, 16 engaged participants attended the 2-hour workshop session. The workshop focused on introducing the fundamentals of data collection and analysis of digital trace data, utilizing Google Trends and Wikipedia as powerful sources for gaining insights into migration patterns, including the context of forced migration. The workshop was structured into sessions to discuss the concept of digital trace data and their significance in migration studies, explore how online platforms like Google Trends and Wikipedia capture and reflect real-world migration trends, understand how researchers have utilized these insights in academic research, and discuss the ethical implications of using digital trace data for migration studies. At the end of the session, participants engaged in discussions and asked questions related to ethics using digital trace data and potential challenges and advantages of using digital trace data in the African context. Overall, the workshop provided a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and collaborative discussions.

 

  • The workshop slides and examples of code can be found here
     

Workshop organizers:  Carolina Coimbra Vieira and Ebru Şanlıtürk, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR).

 

Workshop participants.

 

Workshop organizers Carolina Coimbra Vieira and Ebru Şanlıtürk with colleagues from the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR).