Call for Abstracts

Data donation has emerged as a critical avenue for (computational) social science. Rooted in data portability rights, data donation allows researchers to request participants data download packages (DDPs) from digital platforms and share them via secure Data Donation Tools (DDTs). This approach offers a promising pathway to capture granular, user-level trace data while bypassing the reactivity biases of user trace data collection via logging (e.g., browser plug-ins, apps).

Despite its promise, the field faces persistent methodological, ethical, and technical hurdles. As the practice matures, it is essential to move beyond proof-of-concept studies to address the complex reality of utilizing these datasets.

We invite abstract submissions regarding – but not restricted to – the following topics, ranging from collection logistics to advanced analytical strategies. Abstracts can be empirical, theoretical, methodological, or policy-oriented.

I. Challenges in Collection, Ethics, and Infrastructure

The process of acquiring DDPs remains fraught with friction and bias. We welcome contributions that address the “back-bone” of data donation:

  • Informed Consent at Scale: How can we ensure “true” informed consent when participants are asked to donate thousands of data points regarding their digital history?
  • Representation and Bias: How do researchers mitigate self-selection bias and low donation rates? If strict representativeness is unattainable, how should we define and scope target populations?
  • User Experience: What design interventions or technical solutions can effectively reduce friction in the donation workflow?
  • The Regulatory Landscape: How will the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Portability APIs reshape the data donation ecosystem?

II. Methodological Innovations and Analytical Practices

Data donation is not merely a collection challenge; but also an analytical one. When augmented with survey data or content metadata, these datasets become exceptionally rich and complex. We invite empirical studies and methodological contributions that explore how to make sense of this data:

  • Adapting Longitudinal Methods: How can techniques such as sequence analysis, process mining, or event logging be adapted to the specific idiosyncrasies of donated trace data?
  • The Qualitative Turn?: We encourage submissions that challenge the default quantitative lens. How can data donations be utilized in qualitative or mixed-method study designs?
  • Data Linkage Strategies: What are the best practices for robustly linking data donations with external data sources (e.g., surveys, passive metering, or contextual metadata)?

Submission Guidelines

Abstract Requirements

The abstract should clarify:

  • Research goal
  • Key questions
  • Research design (if applicable)
  • Relation to data donation

Formatting Requirements

  • Please submit an abstract in pdf format
  • The submission needs to be anonymized for double-blind review (do not include names and affiliations of authors)
  • Abstracts should be a maximum of 500 words (including references)
  • Abstracts may contain figures and tables

Authors can but do not have to include results in the abstract. If authors do not include results, they need to clearly state the status of the project and the anticipated timeline for finalizing results.

Submission Policies

  • For each author, only one first-author publication can be submitted
  • All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review process

Attendance Information

  • The symposium is an in-person event
  • There is no participation fee
  • For each submission, one presenting author must be present at the symposium, which is expected to be the first author

Important Dates

  • Submission Deadline: April 30, 2026
  • Notification of Acceptance: July 31, 2026
  • Symposium Date: October 1–2, 2026
Submit Your Abstract

Questions?

If you have questions about the submission process or requirements, please contact the program committee at lion.wedel@weizenbaum-institut.de