University of Salford

Digital Methods

The Salford Digital Methods Initiative (SDMi)

Enabling Insights into Audiences, Populations, and Markets

The SDMi is a cross disciplinary facility that enables academics, students and industry partners to leverage the data generated by a range of digital devices and platforms.

Digital Methods are a range of approaches which recognise there are insights to be had about our everyday activities through the analysis of the data generated by digital platforms as they are used.  These techniques include capturing data from mainstream social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, as well as exploring the big data created by apps, the open web and within public and private organisations.

At the SDMi we have the capacity, for example, to explore how people are engaging with marketing campaigns, public health initiatives, television programmes and visitor attractions.

Our expanding toolkit includes: Facebook group and page analysis; tweet capture; semi-automated big qualitative data analysis; app analysis; data visualisation; geo-visualisation and interactive visual-narrative marking.

For further information contact: digitalmethods@salford.ac.uk