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Big Data in Public Affairs
Open accessAbstract
This article offers an overview of the conceptual, substantive, and practical issues surrounding “big data” to provide one perspective on how the field of public affairs can successfully cope with the big data revolution. Big data in public affairs refers to a combination of administrative data collected through traditional means and large‐scale data sets created by sensors, computer networks, or individuals as they use the Internet. In public affairs, new opportunities for real‐time insights into behavioral patterns are emerging but are bound by safeguards limiting government reach through the restriction of the collection and analysis of these data. To address both the opportunities and challenges of this emerging phenomenon, the authors first review the evolving canon of big data articles across related fields. Second, they derive a working definition of big data in public affairs. Third, they review the methodological and analytic challenges of using big data in public affairs scholarship and practice. The article concludes with implications for public affairs.
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Combinations of different datasets may reveal new insights into individuals.
“On top of that, the combinations of different datasets may reveal new insights into individuals (Mergel, Rethemeyer, and Isett 2016).”
From Legitimacy of Algorithmic Decision-Making: Six Threats and the Need for a Calibrated Institutional Response (2022) · cites this paper as Mergel, Rethemeyer, and Isett 2016
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Big data and AI - A transformational shift for government: So, what next for research?
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How smart can government be? Exploring barriers to the adoption of smart government
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Metadata
- Authors
- Mergel, I., Rethemeyer, R. K., & Isett, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Konstanz (DE)
- University at Albany, State University of New York (US)
- Georgia Institute of Technology (US)
- Venue
- Public Administration Review
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2016-09-09
- Volume
- 76
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 928-937
- ISSN
- 0033-3352 (ISSN-L)
- 1540-6210
- OpenAlex
- W2513202618
- Cited by
- 241
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 25 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 29 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 34.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- nbn-resolving.de
- Locations
- Public Administration Review (publishedVersion)
- KOPS (University of Konstanz) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Big Data Technologies and Applications
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › E-Government and Public Services
- Social Sciences › Public Administration › Public Policy and Administration Research
- Keywords
- big data, public affairs, administrative data, sensor data, web data, data privacy, government surveillance, big data definition, data analysis challenges
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