Thomas Davidson
@thomasdavidson.bsky.social
Sociologist at Rutgers. Studies far-right politics, populism, and hate speech. Computational social science.
https://www.thomasrdavidson.com/
https://www.thomasrdavidson.com/
Pinned
New paper in Nature Human Behaviour.
I use a conjoint experiment to test multimodal large language models (MLLMs) for context-sensitive content moderation and compare with human subjects. Methodologically, this demonstrates how social science techniques can enhance AI auditing. 💻🤖💬
I use a conjoint experiment to test multimodal large language models (MLLMs) for context-sensitive content moderation and compare with human subjects. Methodologically, this demonstrates how social science techniques can enhance AI auditing. 💻🤖💬
On the topic of AI and social science research, the Research Briefing on my Nature Human Behaviour paper is now online. It's an accessible summary of the research, implications, and some behind-the-scenes commentary.
Thanks @gligoric.bsky.social for providing an expert opinion!
Thanks @gligoric.bsky.social for providing an expert opinion!
January 6, 2026 at 9:06 PM
On the topic of AI and social science research, the Research Briefing on my Nature Human Behaviour paper is now online. It's an accessible summary of the research, implications, and some behind-the-scenes commentary.
Thanks @gligoric.bsky.social for providing an expert opinion!
Thanks @gligoric.bsky.social for providing an expert opinion!
Putting informed consent aside, there is a strong minimal risk argument for using LLMs to analyze publicly available documents (particularly open-access published research), given that such materials are already routinely ingested by LLMs, with and without researcher intervention.
January 6, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Putting informed consent aside, there is a strong minimal risk argument for using LLMs to analyze publicly available documents (particularly open-access published research), given that such materials are already routinely ingested by LLMs, with and without researcher intervention.
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
New paper in Social Science Computer Review 🚨
We conducted two experiments to understand the effects of reading AI summaries, focusing on historical events 📜🤖👩💻
We found that AI improved factual recall, possibly due to post-training optimization
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
We conducted two experiments to understand the effects of reading AI summaries, focusing on historical events 📜🤖👩💻
We found that AI improved factual recall, possibly due to post-training optimization
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
New paper in Social Science Computer Review 🚨
We conducted two experiments to understand the effects of reading AI summaries, focusing on historical events 📜🤖👩💻
We found that AI improved factual recall, possibly due to post-training optimization
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
We conducted two experiments to understand the effects of reading AI summaries, focusing on historical events 📜🤖👩💻
We found that AI improved factual recall, possibly due to post-training optimization
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
New paper in Social Science Computer Review 🚨
We conducted two experiments to understand the effects of reading AI summaries, focusing on historical events 📜🤖👩💻
We found that AI improved factual recall, possibly due to post-training optimization
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
We conducted two experiments to understand the effects of reading AI summaries, focusing on historical events 📜🤖👩💻
We found that AI improved factual recall, possibly due to post-training optimization
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
New paper in Social Science Computer Review 🚨
We conducted two experiments to understand the effects of reading AI summaries, focusing on historical events 📜🤖👩💻
We found that AI improved factual recall, possibly due to post-training optimization
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
We conducted two experiments to understand the effects of reading AI summaries, focusing on historical events 📜🤖👩💻
We found that AI improved factual recall, possibly due to post-training optimization
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
This generally seems like a bad idea - particularly paying Qualtrics to do it.
However, there are various applications of synthetic data, or "silicon sampling", that are worth exploring. We discuss this in the context of the recent SMR special issue on gen AI: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
However, there are various applications of synthetic data, or "silicon sampling", that are worth exploring. We discuss this in the context of the recent SMR special issue on gen AI: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
December 16, 2025 at 6:58 PM
This generally seems like a bad idea - particularly paying Qualtrics to do it.
However, there are various applications of synthetic data, or "silicon sampling", that are worth exploring. We discuss this in the context of the recent SMR special issue on gen AI: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
However, there are various applications of synthetic data, or "silicon sampling", that are worth exploring. We discuss this in the context of the recent SMR special issue on gen AI: journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1...
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
New paper in Nature Human Behaviour.
I use a conjoint experiment to test multimodal large language models (MLLMs) for context-sensitive content moderation and compare with human subjects. Methodologically, this demonstrates how social science techniques can enhance AI auditing. 💻🤖💬
I use a conjoint experiment to test multimodal large language models (MLLMs) for context-sensitive content moderation and compare with human subjects. Methodologically, this demonstrates how social science techniques can enhance AI auditing. 💻🤖💬
December 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
New paper in Nature Human Behaviour.
I use a conjoint experiment to test multimodal large language models (MLLMs) for context-sensitive content moderation and compare with human subjects. Methodologically, this demonstrates how social science techniques can enhance AI auditing. 💻🤖💬
I use a conjoint experiment to test multimodal large language models (MLLMs) for context-sensitive content moderation and compare with human subjects. Methodologically, this demonstrates how social science techniques can enhance AI auditing. 💻🤖💬
New paper in Nature Human Behaviour.
I use a conjoint experiment to test multimodal large language models (MLLMs) for context-sensitive content moderation and compare with human subjects. Methodologically, this demonstrates how social science techniques can enhance AI auditing. 💻🤖💬
I use a conjoint experiment to test multimodal large language models (MLLMs) for context-sensitive content moderation and compare with human subjects. Methodologically, this demonstrates how social science techniques can enhance AI auditing. 💻🤖💬
December 15, 2025 at 3:04 PM
New paper in Nature Human Behaviour.
I use a conjoint experiment to test multimodal large language models (MLLMs) for context-sensitive content moderation and compare with human subjects. Methodologically, this demonstrates how social science techniques can enhance AI auditing. 💻🤖💬
I use a conjoint experiment to test multimodal large language models (MLLMs) for context-sensitive content moderation and compare with human subjects. Methodologically, this demonstrates how social science techniques can enhance AI auditing. 💻🤖💬
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
Article by @thomasdavidson.bsky.social on multimodal LLMs and hate speech: larger models aligned with human judgment, but pervasive demographic and lexical biases remain, and visual identity cues may amplify disparities.
Multimodal large language models can make context-sensitive hate speech evaluations aligned with human judgement - Nature Human Behaviour
This study examines how multimodal large language models evaluate hate speech. Larger models can make context-sensitive decisions aligned with human judgement. However, pervasive demographic and lexical biases remain, and visual identity cues may amplify disparities.
www.nature.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Article by @thomasdavidson.bsky.social on multimodal LLMs and hate speech: larger models aligned with human judgment, but pervasive demographic and lexical biases remain, and visual identity cues may amplify disparities.
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 18, 2025 at 7:16 PM
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
I'm recruiting multiple PhD students for Fall 2026 in Computer Science at @hopkinsengineer.bsky.social 🍂
Apply to work on AI for social sciences/human behavior, social NLP, and LLMs for real-world applied domains you're passionate about!
Learn more at kristinagligoric.com & help spread the word!
Apply to work on AI for social sciences/human behavior, social NLP, and LLMs for real-world applied domains you're passionate about!
Learn more at kristinagligoric.com & help spread the word!
November 5, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I'm recruiting multiple PhD students for Fall 2026 in Computer Science at @hopkinsengineer.bsky.social 🍂
Apply to work on AI for social sciences/human behavior, social NLP, and LLMs for real-world applied domains you're passionate about!
Learn more at kristinagligoric.com & help spread the word!
Apply to work on AI for social sciences/human behavior, social NLP, and LLMs for real-world applied domains you're passionate about!
Learn more at kristinagligoric.com & help spread the word!
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
Sky News does a great job here of showing that right wing voices get outsized amplification on X. The why of it is complicated (we have upcoming work on this). But the fact if it is undeniable. The platform is also full of clickbaity bullshit. Not unrelated.
A fantastic piece of data journalism. #JournalismMatters💪
"How Elon Musk is Boosting the British Right. For nine months, Sky News' Data and Forensics team has been investigating whether X's algorithm amplifies right-wing and extreme content. It does."
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
"How Elon Musk is Boosting the British Right. For nine months, Sky News' Data and Forensics team has been investigating whether X's algorithm amplifies right-wing and extreme content. It does."
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Sky News does a great job here of showing that right wing voices get outsized amplification on X. The why of it is complicated (we have upcoming work on this). But the fact if it is undeniable. The platform is also full of clickbaity bullshit. Not unrelated.
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
Happy to announce the UTM Sociology Speaker Series for 2025-2026 @utm-research.bsky.social @uoftsociology.bsky.social
October 27, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Happy to announce the UTM Sociology Speaker Series for 2025-2026 @utm-research.bsky.social @uoftsociology.bsky.social
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
🇫🇷 We are hiring 🇫🇷
Assistant or Associate Professor Position in Computational Sociology @crestsociology.bsky.social @ipparis.bsky.social
Details here (please RT)
www.shorturl.at/E57le
Assistant or Associate Professor Position in Computational Sociology @crestsociology.bsky.social @ipparis.bsky.social
Details here (please RT)
www.shorturl.at/E57le
October 20, 2025 at 2:40 PM
🇫🇷 We are hiring 🇫🇷
Assistant or Associate Professor Position in Computational Sociology @crestsociology.bsky.social @ipparis.bsky.social
Details here (please RT)
www.shorturl.at/E57le
Assistant or Associate Professor Position in Computational Sociology @crestsociology.bsky.social @ipparis.bsky.social
Details here (please RT)
www.shorturl.at/E57le
There is one week left to apply to join us at Rutgers! We're hiring an Assistant Professor in Computational Sociology as part of a cluster of new hires in data science and AI.
Applications are due next Wednesday, 10/15.
Applications are due next Wednesday, 10/15.
Assistant Professor in Computational Sociology
The Department of Sociology at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, seeks applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level specializing in Computational Sociology. The search i...
jobs.rutgers.edu
October 9, 2025 at 2:11 PM
There is one week left to apply to join us at Rutgers! We're hiring an Assistant Professor in Computational Sociology as part of a cluster of new hires in data science and AI.
Applications are due next Wednesday, 10/15.
Applications are due next Wednesday, 10/15.
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
Should WOAH start a mentorship programme? 🤔
As the workshop grows, reviewer expectations are rising.
We don’t want contributors from adjacent communities penalised by *CL norms.
Senior PhDs and beyond could be mentors.
Share your thoughts:
👉 forms.gle/safif3rU2rs5...
As the workshop grows, reviewer expectations are rising.
We don’t want contributors from adjacent communities penalised by *CL norms.
Senior PhDs and beyond could be mentors.
Share your thoughts:
👉 forms.gle/safif3rU2rs5...
September 29, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Should WOAH start a mentorship programme? 🤔
As the workshop grows, reviewer expectations are rising.
We don’t want contributors from adjacent communities penalised by *CL norms.
Senior PhDs and beyond could be mentors.
Share your thoughts:
👉 forms.gle/safif3rU2rs5...
As the workshop grows, reviewer expectations are rising.
We don’t want contributors from adjacent communities penalised by *CL norms.
Senior PhDs and beyond could be mentors.
Share your thoughts:
👉 forms.gle/safif3rU2rs5...
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
Carolina Sociology is hiring!
• Tenure-track in computational sociology or advanced quantitative methods
• Open rank in population health.
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
• Tenure-track in computational sociology or advanced quantitative methods
• Open rank in population health.
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
Assistant Professor
This Assistant Professor position will teach graduate and undergraduate courses, conduct research in the field of Sociology, participate in departmental service, and mentor graduate students.
unc.peopleadmin.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Carolina Sociology is hiring!
• Tenure-track in computational sociology or advanced quantitative methods
• Open rank in population health.
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
• Tenure-track in computational sociology or advanced quantitative methods
• Open rank in population health.
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/307...
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
Come work with us @crestsociology.bsky.social
We are looking for a post-doc with a background in social sciences, interested in NLP and in media & journalism studies.
Details here: www.css.cnrs.fr/post-doctora...
We are looking for a post-doc with a background in social sciences, interested in NLP and in media & journalism studies.
Details here: www.css.cnrs.fr/post-doctora...
Post-Doctoral Position – Media / Journalism – CSS @ IP-Paris
Site web de l'axe sciences sociales computationnelles du CREST-CNRS. Cours et tutoriels pour l'analyse des données numériques en sciences sociales.
www.css.cnrs.fr
September 23, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Come work with us @crestsociology.bsky.social
We are looking for a post-doc with a background in social sciences, interested in NLP and in media & journalism studies.
Details here: www.css.cnrs.fr/post-doctora...
We are looking for a post-doc with a background in social sciences, interested in NLP and in media & journalism studies.
Details here: www.css.cnrs.fr/post-doctora...
Big professional news!
September 22, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Big professional news!
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
📊The Sociology Department at Stony Brook University invites applications for *two* tenure-track Assistant Professor positions to begin in Fall 2026. [They] seek scholars who specialize in issues of global inequality and justice, broadly construed.
apply.interfolio.com/172669
apply.interfolio.com/172669
Apply - Interfolio
{{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
September 8, 2025 at 5:53 PM
📊The Sociology Department at Stony Brook University invites applications for *two* tenure-track Assistant Professor positions to begin in Fall 2026. [They] seek scholars who specialize in issues of global inequality and justice, broadly construed.
apply.interfolio.com/172669
apply.interfolio.com/172669
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
Preparing my CSS class for next week and learned that Spotify put limits on its API that prevent most interesting queries developer.spotify.com/blog/2024-11...
This was my main go-to after the Twitter API shut down and now I have to find a new application. Does anyone have any other API reccs?
This was my main go-to after the Twitter API shut down and now I have to find a new application. Does anyone have any other API reccs?
September 17, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Preparing my CSS class for next week and learned that Spotify put limits on its API that prevent most interesting queries developer.spotify.com/blog/2024-11...
This was my main go-to after the Twitter API shut down and now I have to find a new application. Does anyone have any other API reccs?
This was my main go-to after the Twitter API shut down and now I have to find a new application. Does anyone have any other API reccs?
Preparing my CSS class for next week and learned that Spotify put limits on its API that prevent most interesting queries developer.spotify.com/blog/2024-11...
This was my main go-to after the Twitter API shut down and now I have to find a new application. Does anyone have any other API reccs?
This was my main go-to after the Twitter API shut down and now I have to find a new application. Does anyone have any other API reccs?
September 17, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Preparing my CSS class for next week and learned that Spotify put limits on its API that prevent most interesting queries developer.spotify.com/blog/2024-11...
This was my main go-to after the Twitter API shut down and now I have to find a new application. Does anyone have any other API reccs?
This was my main go-to after the Twitter API shut down and now I have to find a new application. Does anyone have any other API reccs?
Interested to read this more closely. One issue I worry about using LLMs for text analysis is the slippage between annotation and classification, particularly for zero-shot learning (is it annotation or classification?). Certainly appears to underscore the critical need for validation.
🚨 New paper alert 🚨 Using LLMs as data annotators, you can produce any scientific result you want. We call this **LLM Hacking**.
Paper: arxiv.org/pdf/2509.08825
Paper: arxiv.org/pdf/2509.08825
September 12, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Interested to read this more closely. One issue I worry about using LLMs for text analysis is the slippage between annotation and classification, particularly for zero-shot learning (is it annotation or classification?). Certainly appears to underscore the critical need for validation.
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
We're hiring an Assistant Professor in Computational Social Science ❗
📚 jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Apply before 26 October and join an internationally outstanding group of social science methodologists 🌎
📚 jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Apply before 26 October and join an internationally outstanding group of social science methodologists 🌎
September 11, 2025 at 3:09 PM
We're hiring an Assistant Professor in Computational Social Science ❗
📚 jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Apply before 26 October and join an internationally outstanding group of social science methodologists 🌎
📚 jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Apply before 26 October and join an internationally outstanding group of social science methodologists 🌎
Reposted by Thomas Davidson
Come join me in wonderful Copenhagen! 🇩🇰
My department is looking to fill at least two positions - any specialization and any level! The University of Copenhagen aims to be the best place for the best ideas. What’s yours?
Apply by Nov 15.
My department is looking to fill at least two positions - any specialization and any level! The University of Copenhagen aims to be the best place for the best ideas. What’s yours?
Apply by Nov 15.
Call for two or more open-rank academic positions in Sociology
jobportal.ku.dk
September 11, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Come join me in wonderful Copenhagen! 🇩🇰
My department is looking to fill at least two positions - any specialization and any level! The University of Copenhagen aims to be the best place for the best ideas. What’s yours?
Apply by Nov 15.
My department is looking to fill at least two positions - any specialization and any level! The University of Copenhagen aims to be the best place for the best ideas. What’s yours?
Apply by Nov 15.
New pre-print on large reasoning models 🤖🧠
To what extent does LRM behavior resemble human reasoning processes?
I find that LRM reasoning effort predicts human decision time on a pairwise comparison task, and both humans and LRMs require more time/effort on challenging tasks
To what extent does LRM behavior resemble human reasoning processes?
I find that LRM reasoning effort predicts human decision time on a pairwise comparison task, and both humans and LRMs require more time/effort on challenging tasks
September 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
New pre-print on large reasoning models 🤖🧠
To what extent does LRM behavior resemble human reasoning processes?
I find that LRM reasoning effort predicts human decision time on a pairwise comparison task, and both humans and LRMs require more time/effort on challenging tasks
To what extent does LRM behavior resemble human reasoning processes?
I find that LRM reasoning effort predicts human decision time on a pairwise comparison task, and both humans and LRMs require more time/effort on challenging tasks