The research project 'Inclusive Software Documentation' focuses on promoting inclusive documentation. ''Women in the social sciences shy away from using computational text analysis methods because of how the tools are documented. Without inclusive documentation, we create a downward spiral that reinforces the existing gender gap,'' says Van der Velden.
Among other things, the 'Inclusive Software Documentation' project aims to provide insight into what the most commonly used digital tools are in the social sciences. In addition, Van der Velden wants to investigate preferences for inclusive documentation for different groups in academia.
Netherlands eScience Center offers the 'eScience Fellowship Programme' aimed at members of the academic research community who are passionate about acting as ambassadors for the use of research software. The programme supports those who want to promote or improve awareness and use of research software within their institute or academic community. Van der Velden will receive a personal budget of 5,000 Euros which she uses to reward and recognizes the inclusive documentation of research software
Mariken van der Velden elected as eScience Center Fellow
2 February 2023
Despite the frequent use of computational methods, for instance, to research deceitful information on social media, within the social sciences, the uptake of these methods is uneven. Women in the social sciences are more likely to shy away from using computational methods. To make these methods more inclusive, political communication scientist Mariken van der Velden of VU Amsterdam has been elected as an eScience Center Fellow with her project 'Inclusive Software Documentation'.