Programs and Courses

Source: https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/2026/course/SOCY2166 Parent: https://programsandcourses.anu.edu.au/program/AACOM

• Code SOCY2166

• Unit Value 6 units

• Offered by School of Sociology

• ANU College ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences
• Course subject Sociology

• Areas of interest Political Sciences, Sociology, Economics, Communications

• Academic career UGRD

• Course convener
• Dr Robert Ackland
• Mode of delivery In Person
• Co-taught Course
• SOCY6066
• Offered in

First Semester 2026\

See Future Offerings

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Social Science of the Internet (SOCY2166)

• Introduction
• Learning Outcomes
• Indicative Assessment
• Workload
• Inherent Requirements
• Requisite and Incompatibility
• Prescribed Texts
• Preliminary Reading
• Fees
• Offerings and Dates

The internet, and in particular the web and social media, has transformed the way we socialise, participate in politics, work, collaborate, and engage in commerce. This course focuses on the contribution of social science at large – emphasising classical sociology and social network analysis – to understanding life in the Digital Age. While attention is paid to relevant insights and approaches from other disciplines, for example applied physics and computer science, the primary focus is on theoretical and empirical contributions from social science. This course equips students with the theory and methods for understanding the social, political and economic impact of the internet. Students will also learn how network analysis and big data are being used to answer long-standing questions in social science.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. critically assess the social, political and economic impact of the Internet;
2. understand how big data are being used to answer long-standing social science research questions;
3. conduct basic social network analysis;
4. research available data, tools and methods for studying online social behaviour; and
5. compare social scientific approaches to studying the Internet with those from other disciplines.

Indicative Assessment

1. Online quizzes (20) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
2. Social network analysis problem set and research note (30) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
3. Final examination (50) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

130 hours of total student learning time made up from: \ a) 35 hours of contact over 12 weeks: 24 hours of lectures, and 11 hours of tutorials; and\ b) 95 hours of independent student research, reading and writing.

Inherent Requirements

Not applicable

Requisite and Incompatibility

To enrol in this course you must have completed: -12 units of Computer (COMP) or Statistics (STAT) courses , OR -12 units of Criminology (CRIM), Political Science (POLS), Social Research (SOCR) or Sociology (SOCY) courses. In addition, if SOCY2038 Introduction to Quantitative Research Methods has not been completed, then it must studied concurrently with SOCY2166. Students not satisfying the above may request permission to enrol from the convener. You are not able to enrol in this course if you have previously completed SOCY6066.

Prescribed Texts

Not applicable.

Preliminary Reading

Ackland, R. (2013), Web Social Science: Concepts, Data and Tools for Social Scientists in the Digital Age, SAGE Publications.

Fees

Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.

Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students\ If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. 

Student Contribution Band: : 14

Unit value: : 6 units

If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) placeor international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.

Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.

Course fees

Domestic International

Domestic fee paying students

International fee paying students

Note: Please note that fee information is for current year only.

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Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

The list of offerings for future years is indicative only. \

Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.

2026

2027

First Semester

First Semester