Workshop on Text Mining

The Department of English and Cultural Studies at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Pune Lavasa Campus, successfully organized a workshop titled “Text Mining in the Digital Humanities” on 28 February 2025. The workshop, conducted from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM in the Smart Room of the Management Block, was specifically tailored for the students of the MA English with Digital Humanities program. The primary objective of this session was to provide students with a foundational understanding of text mining and its practical applications in humanities research.

The resource person for the session was Ms. Jessia Saji, a research scholar from the Department of English and Cultural Studies. Ms. Saji brought both theoretical knowledge and practical expertise to the workshop, ensuring that the session was not only informative but also engaging and hands-on. The event began with a welcome address and brief introduction by the faculty coordinator, who underscored the growing relevance of digital tools and methodologies in the humanities. The coordinator emphasized the importance of equipping students with digital competencies to navigate contemporary academic and research landscapes effectively.

Ms. Saji initiated the session by outlining the fundamental concepts of text mining. She explained how text mining serves as a bridge between computational analysis and traditional humanities scholarship. Participants were introduced to the interdisciplinary nature of text mining, which allows researchers to uncover patterns, detect trends, and draw meaningful insights from large volumes of textual data that would be difficult to process manually.

A significant portion of the workshop focused on practical demonstrations. Students were introduced to a variety of text mining tools, including **Voyant Tools**, **AntConc**, and Python-based libraries such as **NLTK (Natural Language Toolkit)**. Ms. Saji offered detailed, step-by-step guidance on how to use these tools for different types of textual analysis. These included word frequency analysis, keyword extraction, sentiment analysis, and topic modeling. The demonstrations provided students with a hands-on experience of how digital tools can enrich literary and cultural research.

The workshop also explored the integration of text mining techniques into qualitative research methodologies. Ms. Saji illustrated how digital methods can complement traditional close reading strategies, especially in literature, film, and cultural studies. Real-world examples were provided to show how computational analysis can help uncover deeper insights and support critical arguments in scholarly work.

In addition, the session addressed important ethical considerations surrounding digital research. Issues such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the responsible representation of textual sources were discussed in depth. Students were encouraged to think critically about the ethical dimensions of their research practices and to use digital tools responsibly.

The workshop concluded with an interactive Q\&A session. Students asked insightful questions about applying text mining techniques to their own research projects. Ms. Saji responded with practical advice, encouraging students to continue exploring digital tools and to remain open to interdisciplinary learning.

The session was well-received by both students and faculty members. Participants appreciated the clarity, depth, and interactivity of the workshop. The Department of English and Cultural Studies plans to organize more such events in the future, aiming to enhance digital literacy and foster a spirit of innovation in humanities research.