7  Data Analysis: Part 2

From the required reading, we learned that we must carefully take into account how the data are collected, analyzed, disseminated. If we don’t, we risk missing a vital piece of the data story, especially when data sets are aggregated, and cause more unintended harm to those we are trying to protect.

7.1 Hidden stories in news reports

Figure 7.1: Piled HIgher and Deeper comic, “The Science News Cycle.”

For your assignment this week, you had to find a news analysis story1 published within the last year (2023 – present).

Class Activity 1

Describe the news analysis story you wrote about for your writing assignment and discuss the following questions:

  • How do the claims made in the article apply to your life, family, or community?
  • Who authored the article, and how might their background influence its content?
  • Do you have any doubts or concerns about the contents in the article? If so, what are they?
  • How could the story change with an increase or decrease in available data?

7.2 There are lies, damned lies, and statistics…

Figure 7.2: Valerie, from the movie, “Princess Bride,” saying, “Liar!”

There are often two sides to every story, especially when it comes to how people collect, store, transfer, and analyze data. In this in-class activity, we will apply the ideas and concepts we’ve learned so far to answer a question in multiple ways that are technically correct, even if the different answers contradict one another.

Class Activity 2

You will be given 30 minutes to complete this in-class activity (with a check-in at 15 minutes to assess progress).

Each of you has been assigned a random “topic” (see table below).

For your assigned question, come up with at least two different statistics that are technically correct but seem to contradict each other (or at least are drastically different) based on data from the United States. For each statistic, answer the following:

  • What information did you use to answer your question?
  • Did the digital object that contained the information follow the FAIR principles?
  • How did you access that information?
    • Did the storage and transfer of that information take into account security and privacy?
  • How did you use that information to answer your question?
  • Do you have any ethical and/or equity concerns about this information?

Topic assignments:

Student Last Name Topic
Black What percent of marriages end in divorce?
Boes What is the percentage of African American men incarcerated compared to those in college?
Cohen What is the carbon footprint of raising a child?
Coleman What is the gender pay gap?
DeAngelo At what age are women less likely to get pregnant?
Duff What is the average student loan debt?
Flynn What is the rate of illegal immigration?
Gomez What is the primary factor that causes homelessness?
Keohane What is the rate of sexual assault?
Kiely At what age do mental health disorders develop in people?
Larsson What is the teenage pregnancy rate?
Lombardi At what year after being founded do most startup companies fail?
Macro What percentage of immigrants are taking jobs from Americans?
Mathews What is the average cost of raising a child?
Meslin What percentage of crimes are committed by someone known to the victim?
Norton What percentage of welfare recipients are able-bodied adults who don’t work?
Novakoski What is the fraud rate of using food stamps?
Russell Does the unemployment rate accurately reflect joblessness?
Schreifels What percentage of immigrants are undocumented?
Scully What is the percentage of abortions performed on teenagers?
Sokolova What is the percentage of gun violence?
Weir What percentage of energy consumption comes from renewable sources?
Williams What is the percentage of voter fraud?

7.3 Week 5 Assignment

DEADLINE

Due June 20, at 11:59 PM EDT on Canvas

7.3.1 Read

  • Chapter 6: What Data Privacy Laws Exist?

7.3.2 Optional additional read

7.3.3 Optional watch

7.3.4 Collect data

For one day, record how often private companies collect your data from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed. For example, opening a social media app or browsing the web.

7.3.5 Write (600 to 1200 words)

Based on your data log, answer the following questions:

  • Is any of the information collected by private companies protected by a state or federal law?
  • What could a private company do with that information for the public good?
  • What could a private company do with that information that may harm or violate your personal privacy?
  • What are the data equity and ethical impacts of collecting this information?

  1. “An article written to inform readers about recent events. The author reports and attempts to deepen understanding of recent events—for example, by providing background information and other kinds of additional context.” – CSUSM Library↩︎