Interdisciplinary Approaches to Teaching Communication and Ethics in Data Science: A Case Study
Volume 22, Issue 2 (2024): Special Issue: 2023 Symposium on Data Science and Statistics (SDSS): “Inquire, Investigate, Implement, Innovate”, pp. 333–351
Pub. online: 29 April 2024
Type: Education In Data Science
Open Access
Open Access
Received
1 August 2023
1 August 2023
Accepted
4 April 2024
4 April 2024
Published
29 April 2024
29 April 2024
Abstract
By its nature, data science uses ideas and methodologies from computer science and statistics, along with field-specific knowledge, to describe, learn and predict. Recently, storytelling has been highlighted as an important extension of more traditional data science skills such as coding and modeling. Three courses in our new Master in Data Science and Analytic Storytelling program were designed to include interdisciplinary modules, mainly taught by faculty in storytelling-related disciplines, such as Communication and Art & Design. These courses were PDAT 622: Narrative, Argument, and Persuasion in Data Science; PDAT 624: Principles of Design in Data Visualization; and PDAT 625: Big Data Ethics and Security.
Our first cohort serves as a natural case study, allowing us to reflectively analyze our materials and an informal student survey to explore the effects of interdisciplinarity in these novel courses. Results of the student survey show that students generally found value in these interdisciplinary course components, especially in course “signature assignments,” which allow students to actively engage with course content while reinforcing technical skills from previous courses. Examples of these signature assignments are presented in this paper’s supplementary materials.
Supplementary material
Supplementary MaterialThe following files are included in the supplementary material:
1.
Signature assignment in Narrative, Argument and Persuasion
2.
Signature assignment on algorithmic bias in bail risk assessment
3.
Algorithmic bias data set, modified from the original Pro Publica data set
4.
Data visualization deconstruction assignment
5.
SVG file containing components of Image 1 for the deconstruction assignment
6.
SVG file containing components of Image 2 for the deconstruction assignment
7.
Assignment using ggplot to recreate a historic data visualization by William Playfair
8.
Data set of wheat and wages for use with the Playfair reconstruction
9.
Data set of British monarchs for use with the Playfair reconstruction
References
American Statistical Association Undergraduate Guidelines Workgroup, (2014) Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Programs in Statistical Science. American Statistical Association, Alexandria, VA. https://www.amstat.org/docs/default-source/amstat-documents/edu-guidelines2014-11-15.pdf.
Angwin J, Larson J, Mattu S, Kirchner L (2016). Machine bias. https://www.propublica.org/article/machine-bias-risk-assessments-in-criminal-sentencing. Accessed: 2023-05-20.
Bitzer LF (1968). The rhetorical situation. Philosophy & Rhetoric, 1(1): 1–14. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40236733.
Brancusi C (1907). The kiss. Tylwyth Eldar. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/93511527/. Accessed: 2023-07-29.
Clarke R (1997). Introduction to dataveillance and information privacy, and definitions of terms. https://www.rogerclarke.com/DV/Intro.html. Accessed: 2023-07-29.
De Veaux RD, et al. (2017). Curriculum guidelines for undergraduate programs in data science. Annual Review of Statistics and Its Application, 4(1): 15–30. https://www.amstat.org/docs/default-source/amstat-documents/edu-datascienceguidelines.pdf. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-statistics-060116-053930
Duke University (2024). Master of engineering in computer science, economics, and data science (course 6-14p). https://datascience.duke.edu/academics/mids-courses/. Accessed: 2024-03-31.
Fisher W (1984). Narration as a human communication paradigm: The case for public moral argument. Communication Monographs, 51: 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637758409390180
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2024). Master of engineering in computer science, economics, and data science (course 6-14p). https://catalog.mit.edu/interdisciplinary/graduate-programs/computer-science-economics-data-science/. Accessed: 2024-03-31.
Miller S (2014). Collaborative approaches needed to close the big data skills gap. Journal of Organization Design, 3(1): 26–30. Special Issue on Big Data and Organization Design. https://doi.org/10.7146/jod.9823
Munsell AH (1912). A pigment color system and notation. The American Journal of Psychology, 23(2): 236–244. https://doi.org/10.2307/1412843
Orwell G (1946). Politics and the English language. Horizon, 13: 252–265. https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/politics-and-the-english-language/
Playfair W (1821). A Letter on Our Agricultural Distresses, Their Causes and Remedies: Accompanied with Tables and Copper-Plate Charts, Shewing and Comparing the Prices of Wheat, Bread, and Labour, from 1565 to 1821. Addressed to the Lords and Commons. William Sams, Bookseller to His Royal Highness the Duke of York, London. https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Letter_on_Our_Agricultural_Distresses/Ywt4gFSlL_EC.
Rodin A (1882). The kiss (le baiser). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rodin_-_Le_Baiser_06.jpg. Accessed: 2023-07-29.
Rowland R (1987). Narrative: Mode of discourse or paradigm? Communication Monographs, 54(3): 264–275. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637758709390232
Sachant P, Blood P, LeMieux JA, Tekippe R (2016). Introduction to Art: Design, Context, and Meaning. University of North Georgia University Press, Dahlonega, Georgia. https://open.umn.edu/opentextbooks/textbooks/introduction-to-art-design-context-and-meaning.
Southern Methodist University (2024). Master of science in data science. https://datascience.smu.edu/. Accessed: 2024-03-31.
Syracuse University (2024). Ms in applied data science. https://onlinegrad.syracuse.edu/information-science/academics/. Accessed: 2024-03-31.
Wikipedia (2023). Munsell color system. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munsell_color_system. Accessed: 2023-07-29.
