Author: Bridget Winds Cogley
Publisher: Tableau
Publication Year: 2018
Summary: The following article defines data ethics and its importance for data professionals. The author states that ethics live “at the intersection between laws and values,” and she presents a framework for an ethical review process that highlights the progression from ambiguity, to defining, to analyzing, to reviewing, and finally, deciding. An important step in this framework is “defining” as it is up to the researcher to “identify the values involved” and to take appropriate action as a result. As the ethical issues are identified and understood, the researcher is then better able to “choose what [they] perceive as good solutions for the stakeholders.” Likewise, the author claims that the framework helps data professionals consider 1). data collection, 2). data governance, 3). data sharing, and 4). data decision-making through a more ethical lens. The author concludes by stating that “data ethics are designed to act as speed bumps in our work, so we understand how to face dilemmas both personally and professionally,” which will better enable the researcher to slow down and understand the relevant ethical considerations in context.