Integrare survey e big data nella pratica della ricerca [Integrating survey and big data into research practice]

The outbreak of «Big Data» has triggered a widespread debate about their potential use as substitute of more traditional methodologies like surveys. Despite this outward dichotomy, recent methodological innovations open the field to potential integration between the two. This integration can concern either the survey design stage (explorative integration), the analysis (complementary) or the interpretation of the results (interpretative). The present work examines this potential integration by proposing a systematic discussion, both at the epistemological and methodological level, while focusing on the ways the two approaches can strengthen each other to the benefit of research practice.