Computational Social Science
Lab at Penn

CSS unites computer science, statistics, and social science to solve challenging real-world problems using digital data and platforms. Through mass collaboration with industry, government, and civil society, our research generates insights that advance basic science in the service of practical applications.

Computational Social Science Lab at Penn

CSS unites computer science, statistics, and social science to solve challenging real-world problems using novel theories. Through our mass collaboration with industry, government, and civil society, our path-breaking research generates solutions which are both innovative and practical.

News

How the Media Distorts Perceptions on Chronic Disease Risks
How the Media Distorts Perceptions on Chronic Disease Risks

Silent illnesses, or chronic diseases, contribute to 70% of deaths in the US annually and six in ten Americans suffer from at least one chronic condition. Despite this, coverage of this public health crisis is disproportionately overshadowed by sensational risks, including terrorism, homicide, and traffic accidents- incidents that are far more likely to grab readers’ attention.

Violent Language in Films Has Increased Since the 1970s: A New Study
Violent Language in Films Has Increased Since the 1970s: A New Study

Violent entertainment has made it into the public discourse due to rising concerns about the graphic nature of highly popular video game franchises including Grand Theft Auto (GTA) and Call of Duty. But what about violence in films which are enjoyed by a much larger and more diverse audience? After the R Rating was established by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) film rating system in 1968, there was an increase in violent content in films thereafter. 

Research Assistant Spotlight: Priya D’Costa Presents at NeurIPS
Research Assistant Spotlight: Priya D’Costa Presents at NeurIPS

This past weekend CSSLab alumna Priya DCosta presented a poster titled What do you say or how do you say it? at NeurIPS 2024 Behavioral ML Workshop, a first-time workshop on exploring the incorporation of insights from the behavioral sciences into AI models/systems in Vancouver on December 10-15. In this RA spotlight, Priya shares more on her background and research leading up to NeurIPS.

Over the past 100 years, social science has generated a tremendous number of theories on the topics of individual and collective human behaviour. However, it has been much less successful at reconciling the innumerable inconsistencies and contradictions among these competing explanations.

Duncan Watts
CSSLab Founder

Over the past 100 years, social science has generated a tremendous number of theories on the topics of individual and collective human behaviour. However, it has been much less successful at reconciling the innumerable inconsistencies and contradictions among these competing explanations.

Duncan Watts
CSS Lab Founder

Researchers & Staff

Meet the CSSLab