LES NOUVELLES FRONTIERES DE LA SOCIOLOGIE A L’ERE DU NUMERIQUE : RECONFIGURATIONS THEORIQUES ET METHODOLOGIQUES

Abstract

In the contemporary era of digital transformation, the field of social sciences is encountering novel dynamics that are fundamentally reshaping the manner in which knowledge is interacted with, produced, and circulated. In this context, sociology is required to reconsider its theoretical and methodological frameworks in order to enhance its capacity to comprehend social change in digital environments. This article explores the ways in which digital technology is contributing to the redefining of objects of study, research methods and disciplinary boundaries in contemporary sociology. In order to address the aforementioned issues, the present study has been conducted through the medium of a survey of sociology researchers from various countries. The survey was distributed through academic and professional networks. The study is based on a non-probabilistic convenience sample and adopts an exploratory approach. The survey design is structured around three main themes: firstly, the impact of digital technology on the social world ; secondly, the emergence of new social phenomena in virtual environments; and thirdly, the theoretical and methodological challenges these transformations pose for contemporary sociology. It is imperative to note that particular attention is also given to the ethical issues that are intrinsically linked to the utilisation of digital data and artificial intelligence in research