Ben Williamson
Psychodata: disassembling the psychological, economic, and statistical infrastructure of ‘social-emotional learning’
University of Edinburgh
psychology economics powerful sources expert knowledge contemporary governancesocial emotional learning sel becoming priority education policy many parts worldbased enumeration students noncognitive skills sel consists psychoeconomic combination psychometrics economic analysis producing novel forms statistical psychodata studentsconstituted expanding infrastructure technologies metrics people money policies sel travelled transnationally advocacy psychologists economists behavioural scientists support think tank coalitions philanthropies software companies investment schemes international organizationsthe article examines emerging sel infrastructure identifying psychological economics experts producing policyrelevant scientific knowledge statistical psychodata influence direction sel policiesit examines oecd study social emotional skills largescale computerbased assessment makes personality international focus policy intervention human capital formation thereby translating measurable socioemotional indicators predicted socioeconomic outcomesthe sel measurement infrastructure instantiates psychological governance within education one underpinned political rationality society measured effectively scientific factfinding subjects managed affectively psychological intervention