A qualitative analysis of reflections from a discussion of data ethics conducted during a virtual exchange

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the perceptions of undergraduates who participated in a virtual exchange discussion of data ethics between the University of Florida in the United States and the University of Newcastle in the United Kingdom. In this exchange, students enrolled in a second- semester introduction to statistics course at the University of Florida completed two activities with students from the University of Newcastle. The students interacted on an online video platform, called Flip, and completed a variation of the OkCupid Data Activity. Students’ reflections about their experiences were examined using a qualitative approach with the American Association of Colleges and Universities Rubrics for intercultural knowledge and competence and global learning. The analyses suggest that students demonstrated cultural self-awareness, openness, and curiosity about their peers, but did not reflect on multiple perspectives about data ethics as much as initially hoped. Instructors will need a more focused approach to engage students with multiple perspectives about data ethics. This paper connects to the socio-political aspect of statistics and data science in that the ethical use of data is affected by culture. Undergraduate students in statistics must learn about not only the ethical uses of data but also how to discuss data ethics in a global setting.