The use of Sound Recordings in Social Science

What is the use of Sound in Social Science?

Can it provide access to alternative data sources? And how should these be analyised?

Or are they purely, rather abstracted, contextualisations? There to provide a 'feeling' of the place to illustrate something more, but without being able to directly signify it??

Below is a 9 minute recording of a walk through part of my research site: East Street Market in Southwark, South London. Its a lovely thing for me to listen to. It is evocative of so much; diversity, sociality, the space and place of the area, the history and of course, my own small role in it. But what does it do for the person removed? Does it provide an image? Is it a strong message of the place?

Ultimately I want to know if is sound recording works... as a piece of data itself.

Thoughts?

(Note: Enjoy my stupid voice at the beginning forgetting where the market comes out!)

East Street Market by Dr Ed101

Why doing a PHD is like the X-Factor

It appears that I have found myself a new laptop. It is a very small notebook. Far from powerful, far from unique. But already it feels like an old friend that will see me through this great journey that is my PHD.

OH GOD... I sound like I am on the X Factor. I guess, for me, this is my chance, my opportunity to explore the things that have been entering my mind all this time; To understand the theories and how they work with the rest of the world. There is no-doubt that it will be an emotional journey; there will be ups and downs struggles and (hopefully) more than a few successes. I will also be taught much and learn more. I will make friends and maybe even help people, influence local council and governmental organizations: Affect change.

But there will probably be less singing… and infinitely less Simon Cowell.