Data Labs Team

The Data Labs team of data scientists, computational social scientists and DevOps engineers uses computational methods to complement and expand on Pew Research Center’s existing research agenda. We collect text, network and behavioral datasets, use computational techniques and empirical strategies for analysis, and generate original research. In addition, we explore the limitations of data science tools and methods and work toward establishing standards for their use.

Our major publications have explored and analyzed issues such as congressional communication, Americans’ use of social media, algorithmic bias and religious rhetoric, as well as data sources including YouTube videos and Facebook images. We also manage the Center’s computing infrastructure, have released a package of analytical tools on Github, and write about the process of computational social science research for Decoded, the Center’s behind-the-data Medium blog.

Signature Publications

report | Jun 16, 2022

Politics on Twitter: One-Third of Tweets From U.S. Adults Are Political

Roughly one-quarter of American adults use Twitter. And when they share their views on the site, quite often they are doing so about politics and political issues.

report | Nov 15, 2021

The Behaviors and Attitudes of U.S. Adults on Twitter

A minority of Twitter users produce a majority of tweets from U.S. adults, and the most active tweeters are less likely to view the tone or civility of discussions as a major problem on the site.

feature | Mar 5, 2021

In Their Own Words, Americans Describe the Struggles and Silver Linings of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Pew Research Center has been asking survey questions over the past year about Americans’ views and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic. In August, we gave the public a chance to tell us in their own words how the pandemic has affected them in their personal lives. 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND OUR WORK