Technologies for Data Aggregation: An Overview of Technologies and Opportunities to Propel Third Sector Research
摘要
Some of the most impactful efforts to aggregate data around nonprofits, non-governmental organizations, and other participants of the Third Sector were undertaken by Anheier and Salamon through the Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project (CNP). In reflecting on the project’s shortcomings and opportunities for change and reinvigorated momentum, Anheier (2023) only briefly acknowledges the constellation of advances that have occurred since the CNP began. In particular, collective data aggregation efforts, open data initiatives and publicly available datasets, reductions in computing resource costs, and development and implementation of algorithms are among some of the innovations that can allow for the CNP’s progress to continue and expand in ways unimaginable at its founding. This chapter discusses an effort to engage in data aggregation efforts as described by Bloodgood (see Chap. 12 in this volume). It follows with an exploration of how new technologies and methods expand sense-making in Third Sector research, in particular around generating, implementing, and exploring concepts. It ends with a call to action for greater adoption of these technologies and approaches.