COMPSS 213
Data, Ethics and Society
If knowledge is power, then what is data? In this course, we will examine the power that lies within data and learn to recognize and manage the many ways data shape and are shaped by power relations in organizations and more broadly in society. As someone using data in applied settings, you will play an important role in determining how data are used and how the risks and benefits of analysis are balanced within organizations. We will learn from approaches taken by scholars, data science practitioners, and regulators, and we will devise our own ways to answer these questions.
Topics
- Anticipate or identify ethical tensions related to their analyses Clearly communicate the ethical tensions present when designing research questions, protocols, and analysis Make well-reasoned and actionable recommendations about how to make necessary trade-offs, and how to minimize the risks associated with recommendations Be recognized as data science professionals with high levels of integrity and intellectual rigor
Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027