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Day 4 (8/11): Our Statistical Exile


Key Questions:

  • How does the use of numbers, statistics, graphs and other quantitative instruments affect the way knowledge in the human sciences is valued? (Methods & Tools)
  • Is the role of the human scientist only to describe what the case is or also to make judgements about what should be the case? (Ethics)
Agenda:
  • Our Statistical Exile Activity
  • The Normal Curve: 99% Invisible: "On Average"
  • Further Resources:
    • 99% Invisible: "Invisible Women" - explores the bias in data science and design that has resulted from the exclusion of women from many studies and statistical data sets.
    • Aubrey Clayton "How Eugenics Shaped Statistics" - explores the history of statistics as a science, the racist ideas of its founders, and the ways that these ideas may be 'baked in' to the science itself
    • Daniel Cleather, "Is Statistics Racist?" - more about the historical link between statistics and eugenics
    • Radiolab Presents: G - This limited series from Radiolab explores the historical, social, and cultural significance of the concept of "general intelligence."  
Homework:
  • Read the Jared Diamond article, "Soft sciences are often harder than hard sciences" and respond to the discussion questions. Due on Tuesday, 8/17.

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