The document discusses the importance of ethics in statistics. It notes that while religion and philosophy provide general guidance, they do not address specific issues that may arise in scientific fields. It also argues that having ethical codes is important, not just being a good scientist and following the law. The document then discusses two types of harms caused by statistics: traditional harms like manipulating data or analysis; and extraordinary harms like using statistics to target and attack vulnerable groups for crimes against humanity or genocide.

1. Ética en las Estadísticas:
Introducción (Parte I)
Prof. Orville M. Disdier

2. Frecuencias©Prof. Orville M. Disdier 2

3. “A New Era of Responsibility”
"We cannot overstate the importance of this effort. We are asking the American
people to trust their government with an unprecedented level of funding to
address the economic emergency.
…Following through on our commitments for accountability and openness
will create a foundation upon which we can build as we continue to tackle the
economic crisis and the many other challenges facing our nation."
-Memo to Heads of U.S. Departments and Agencies, February 9, 2009
Frecuencias©Prof. Orville M. Disdier 3

4. Porqué Ética en las Estadísticas
• Some believe that statisticians and other
professionals should obtain any needed moral
guidance solely from religious or philosophical
teachings and not from a professional or
scientific association.
• However, religion and philosophy, while
providing over-arching general guidance, are
rarely able to directly address the specific issues
and associated threats that may arise in any
given scientific field.
Frecuencias©Prof. Orville M. Disdier 4

5. Porqué Ética en las Estadísticas (continuación)
• Others have argued against ethical codes or
standards on the grounds that it is enough for us
to be good statisticians scientifically and obey
the law.
– Those advancing this position are on questionable
ground.
– The view that moral issues play no role in science
and governmental operations was one of the
defenses unsuccessfully offered by those found guilty
of war crimes and crimes against humanity
Frecuencias©Prof. Orville M. Disdier 5

6. Daños causados por las estadísticas:
Daño tradicional
• Professional sins that have traditionally
concerned us as statisticians:
– cooking data
– sloppy or deliberately distorted analysis
– the use of methods or concepts designed to obtain a
predetermined result
– Violation of more general ethical norms such as using
the ideas or language of colleagues without proper
acknowledgment
Frecuencias©Prof. Orville M. Disdier 6

7. Daños causados por las estadísticas:
Daño extraordinario
• The use of the statistical system and closely
related information systems to attack the
population itself usually members of vulnerable
population subgroups.
• Includes Identifying and targeting
individuals for
– forced migration
– crimes against humanity
– genocide
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