Digital sociology and examination of social mechanisms on the Internet space

Abstract

The distribution of new types of secondary sociological information actualizes the role of digital sociology and generates new opportunities for the analysis. Digital sociology, as a subject of research, is viewed as an interdisciplinary direction focused on the social effects, which are generated by the advancement of information and communication technologies and phenomena. The existence of such effects is predetermined by the development of a digital environment than involves various actors. Therefore, the computer modeling of social mechanisms receives increased attention, as the study of its results has considerable potential, and groundwork has been laid for monitoring of socioeconomic processes through reconfiguration of the existing information cascades. The methodological framework is comprised of the general scientific methods, including structural-functional and causal substantiation of the patterns, complementarity of the objective and subjective sides of the social processes. Special methods are presented by the analysis of social networks. The research aims to determine the possibility and prerequisites for creating the information system based on the principles of digital sociology and big data, as well as on the network analysis of the processes and phenomena. Thus, the solution of such task, as the examination of social mechanisms projected on the Internet space, prompted the creation of information system founded on the principles of digital sociology, synergy of the authorities and society, as well as contributed to establishment of the basis for the new model of administrative decision-making, which observes the interests of its subject and characterized by the comprehensive operating information support.