The illusion of data validity: Why numbers about people are likely wrong
<p>This reflection article addresses a difficulty faced by scholars and practitioners working with numbers about people, which is that those who study people want numerical data about these people. Unfortunately, time and time again, this numerical data about people is wrong. Addressing the po...
محفوظ في:
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| مؤلفون آخرون: | , , |
| منشور في: |
2022
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إضافة وسم
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| _version_ | 1864513519101149184 |
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| author | Bernard J. Jansen (7434779) |
| author2 | Joni Salminen (7434770) Soon-gyo Jung (7434773) Hind Almerekhi (7434776) |
| author2_role | author author author |
| author_facet | Bernard J. Jansen (7434779) Joni Salminen (7434770) Soon-gyo Jung (7434773) Hind Almerekhi (7434776) |
| author_role | author |
| dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv | Bernard J. Jansen (7434779) Joni Salminen (7434770) Soon-gyo Jung (7434773) Hind Almerekhi (7434776) |
| dc.date.none.fl_str_mv | 2022-10-01T00:00:00Z |
| dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv | 10.1016/j.dim.2022.100020 |
| dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv | https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/The_illusion_of_data_validity_Why_numbers_about_people_are_likely_wrong/25658904 |
| dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv | CC BY 4.0 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
| dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv | Information and computing sciences Library and information studies People data Measurement Quantitative paradigm Statistics |
| dc.title.none.fl_str_mv | The illusion of data validity: Why numbers about people are likely wrong |
| dc.type.none.fl_str_mv | Text Journal contribution info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion text contribution to journal |
| description | <p>This reflection article addresses a difficulty faced by scholars and practitioners working with numbers about people, which is that those who study people want numerical data about these people. Unfortunately, time and time again, this numerical data about people is wrong. Addressing the potential causes of this wrongness, we present examples of analyzing people numbers, i.e., numbers derived from digital data by or about people, and discuss the comforting illusion of data validity. We first lay a foundation by highlighting potential inaccuracies in collecting people data, such as selection bias. Then, we discuss inaccuracies in analyzing people data, such as the flaw of averages, followed by a discussion of errors that are made when trying to make sense of people data through techniques such as posterior labeling. Finally, we discuss a root cause of people data often being wrong – the conceptual conundrum of thinking the numbers are counts when they are actually measures. Practical solutions to address this illusion of data validity are proposed. The implications for theories derived from people data are also highlighted, namely that these people theories are generally wrong as they are often derived from people numbers that are wrong.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Data and Information Management<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dim.2022.100020" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dim.2022.100020</a></p> |
| eu_rights_str_mv | openAccess |
| id | Manara2_d2fcf002401900c2ab9d2b2d46332779 |
| identifier_str_mv | 10.1016/j.dim.2022.100020 |
| network_acronym_str | Manara2 |
| network_name_str | Manara2 |
| oai_identifier_str | oai:figshare.com:article/25658904 |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| repository.mail.fl_str_mv | |
| repository.name.fl_str_mv | |
| repository_id_str | |
| rights_invalid_str_mv | CC BY 4.0 |
| spelling | The illusion of data validity: Why numbers about people are likely wrongBernard J. Jansen (7434779)Joni Salminen (7434770)Soon-gyo Jung (7434773)Hind Almerekhi (7434776)Information and computing sciencesLibrary and information studiesPeople dataMeasurementQuantitative paradigmStatistics<p>This reflection article addresses a difficulty faced by scholars and practitioners working with numbers about people, which is that those who study people want numerical data about these people. Unfortunately, time and time again, this numerical data about people is wrong. Addressing the potential causes of this wrongness, we present examples of analyzing people numbers, i.e., numbers derived from digital data by or about people, and discuss the comforting illusion of data validity. We first lay a foundation by highlighting potential inaccuracies in collecting people data, such as selection bias. Then, we discuss inaccuracies in analyzing people data, such as the flaw of averages, followed by a discussion of errors that are made when trying to make sense of people data through techniques such as posterior labeling. Finally, we discuss a root cause of people data often being wrong – the conceptual conundrum of thinking the numbers are counts when they are actually measures. Practical solutions to address this illusion of data validity are proposed. The implications for theories derived from people data are also highlighted, namely that these people theories are generally wrong as they are often derived from people numbers that are wrong.</p><h2>Other Information</h2> <p> Published in: Data and Information Management<br> License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dim.2022.100020" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dim.2022.100020</a></p>2022-10-01T00:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1016/j.dim.2022.100020https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/The_illusion_of_data_validity_Why_numbers_about_people_are_likely_wrong/25658904CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/256589042022-10-01T00:00:00Z |
| spellingShingle | The illusion of data validity: Why numbers about people are likely wrong Bernard J. Jansen (7434779) Information and computing sciences Library and information studies People data Measurement Quantitative paradigm Statistics |
| status_str | publishedVersion |
| title | The illusion of data validity: Why numbers about people are likely wrong |
| title_full | The illusion of data validity: Why numbers about people are likely wrong |
| title_fullStr | The illusion of data validity: Why numbers about people are likely wrong |
| title_full_unstemmed | The illusion of data validity: Why numbers about people are likely wrong |
| title_short | The illusion of data validity: Why numbers about people are likely wrong |
| title_sort | The illusion of data validity: Why numbers about people are likely wrong |
| topic | Information and computing sciences Library and information studies People data Measurement Quantitative paradigm Statistics |