Dr. Josh Pasek, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies and Faculty Associate, Center for Political Studies, at the University of Michigan, gives the Emergent Research lecture for May. He says,

"Data from online social networks are increasingly applied to pressing social questions. But despite the widespread use of social media data, analyses to date have not been coupled with a clear understanding of what social media data represent. This talk provides a brief look into an ongoing research project to understand how Twitter data, in particular, relate to other forms of social measurement. In it, I discuss theoretical and practical considerations when comparing traditional forms of social analysis with social media data as well as results of some preliminary analyses. These considerations provide a basis for thinking about what social media data can and cannot currently accomplish as a tool for social measurement."