A Non-Expert's Introduction to Data Ethics for Mathematicians

TL;DR

This paper provides an accessible introduction to data ethics tailored for mathematicians, covering societal context, educational approaches, research issues, and ethical principles, aiming to foster ongoing reflection on data's societal impact.

Contribution

It offers a beginner-friendly overview of data ethics specifically for mathematicians, highlighting educational resources, societal considerations, and ethical challenges in research and data use.

Findings

Highlights importance of data ethics in mathematics education

Discusses open data, privacy, and research ethics issues

Provides resources and encourages ongoing ethical reflection

Abstract

I give a short introduction to data ethics. I begin with some background information and societal context for data ethics. I then discuss data ethics in mathematical-science education and indicate some available course material. I briefly highlight a few efforts -- at my home institution and elsewhere -- on data ethics, society, and social good. I then discuss open data in research, research replicability and some other ethical issues in research, and the tension between privacy and open data and code, and a few controversial studies and reactions to studies. I then discuss ethical principles, institutional review boards, and a few other considerations in the scientific use of human data. I then briefly survey a variety of research and lay articles that are relevant to data ethics and data privacy. I conclude with a brief summary and some closing remarks. My focal audience is mathematicians, but I hope that this chapter will also be useful to others. I am not an expert about data ethics, and this chapter provides only a starting point on this wide-ranging topic. I encourage you to examine the resources that I discuss and to reflect carefully on data ethics, its role in mathematics education, and the societal implications of data and data analysis. As data and technology continue to evolve, I hope that such careful reflection will continue throughout your life.