This document discusses the importance of critical thinking for data scientists. It notes that while data is created by people, it requires context to interpret and can be misused if not approached critically. A key point is that developing skills in the humanities and social sciences provides important context for big data and helps people become better critical thinkers capable of making high-impact decisions. The document advocates using data-related powers responsibly and for positive outcomes.

1. Data Scientists: Need for Critical Thinking
-Susan Etlinger

2. PRESIDENT RONALD
REAGAN WAS
CRITICISED FOR
STATING THAT FACTS
ARE STUPID THINGS

3. WHEREIN, HE
ACTUALLY MEANT
TO QUOTE JOHN
ADAMS’ THAT
FACTS ARE
STUBBORN THINGS

4. Frankly, data doesn’t
create meaning, WE
DO

5. FACTS ARE
VULNERABL
E TO
MISUSE

6. SIZE ISN'T EVERYTHING. THERE'S ALSO
THE SPEED AT WHICH IT MOVES, AND
THE MANY VARIETIES OF DATA TYPES

7. WHAT UNITES
THIS
DISPARATE
TYPES OF
DATA IS THAT
THEY'RE
CREATED BY
PEOPLE AND
THEY REQUIRE
CONTEXT.

8. A MANAGER
SHALL SPEND
MORE
TIME FOCUSING
ON HIS CRITICAL
THINKING SKILLS.

9. BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST BIG DATA THAT CAUSES
CHALLENGES OF INTERPRETATION, HUMANS SCREW UP,
TOO!

10. WE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO MAKE BAD
DECISIONS FAR MORE QUICKLY,
EFFICIENTLY, AND WITH FAR GREATER IMPACT
THAN THE PAST

11. We need to spend time on the humanities,
sociology, the social sciences, rhetoric,
philosophy, ethics, as they give us context so
important for big data, and because they help us
become better critical thinkers.

12. ASSESSMENTS AND
ANALYTICS
OVERVALUE ONE
METRIC
and undervalue
others, such as
creative problem-
solving.

13. SO LET'S USE OUR POWERS FOR GOOD.

15. BECAUSE IT’S
SCIENCE, NOT MAGIC
-By Harshit Sahni