Call for Papers
Data donation has emerged as a critical avenue for (computational) social science. Rooted in data portability rights (such as those established by the GDPR), data donation allows researchers to request that participants download their personal data 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).
However, 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 paper submissions that tackle the following themes, ranging from collection logistics to advanced analytical strategies. The papers can be empirical, theoretical, methodological, or policy-oriented.
I. Challenges in Collection, Ethics, and Infrastructure
The process of acquiring data 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; it is an analytical one. When augmented with survey data or content metadata, these datasets become exceptionally rich and complex. We invite empirical studies and methodological papers 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: Best practices for robustly linking data donations with external data sources (e.g., surveys, passive metering, or contextual metadata).
Submission Guidelines
Formatting Requirements
- Submissions must be in PDF format
- Submissions must be anonymized for double-blind review
- Abstract: without identifying information (max. 500 words, excluding references, tables, and figures)
- Include all figures, tables, and references
Abstract Requirements
The abstract should clarify:
- Research goal
- Key questions
- Research design (if applicable)
- Relation to data donation
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
- The symposium is an in-person event
- For each submission, one presenting author must be present at the symposium, which is expected to be the first author
- All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review process
Important Dates
- Submission Deadline: April 30, 2026
- Notification of Acceptance: July 31, 2026
- Symposium Date: October 1–2, 2026
Questions?
If you have questions about the submission process or requirements, please contact the program committee at lion.wedel@weizenbaum-institut.de