Data is not facts: The impossibility of being unbiased

Data is not Facts: The impossibility of

being unbiased

A n d r e w P a t r i c i o | w w w . d a t a e f f e c t i v e n e s s . c o m

Data is not facts

Data vs FactsOpinions vs ConclusionsFeeling-driven decisions justified by biased filtering of data

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2Andrew Patricio www.dataeffectiveness.com EDW2017

http://www.dataeffectiveness.com/

Data is not facts

We talk about basing decisions on “facts”, but is that really the case?

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Facts are incontrovertible characteristics of the world.

Data are approximations of an aspect of a fact. It can be incorrect or incomplete


Validity not correctness

The goal of our analytics is to replace unsupported opinions with data driven conclusions.

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Some invalid data is invalid

Using our judgement to decide whether data is valid or not is exactly right.

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The problem is that the same judgement goes into determining validity of data as well as to analyze it.

Therefore any bias tends to get reinforced.


Sentio cogito ergo sum

There are many sources of bias but one source that we don’t really talk about is our own ego and internal emotional dynamics.

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Rationalizing decisions after the fact

We cannot really avoid our personal bias, we can only be aware of how it effects our margin of error

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So what can you do?

Be aware of your current margin for error

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The key is self-awareness of your own emotional state, and how it may be throwing your judgement off

Not correcting for your bias, but realizing when your judgement is compromised and thus force yourself to be more open to things you’re rejecting


Exercise – Practice identifying your emotional stateClose your eyes and identify all the feelings/emotions you are currently feeling for 5 mins without repeating yourself

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Data EffectivenessYou aren’t dealing with factsYour judgement is colored by your humanityYou need to know how much to not trust your judgement

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About Me – Andrew Patricio President Data Effectiveness Inc• www.dataeffectiveness.com

• Data Strategy• Reporting Infrastructure• Data Quality

Personal background• Electrical Engineering• IT & management consulting• Chief Data Officer at DC Public Schools

Nov 2010 to June 2016

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[email protected]

@dataeffectivelyblog.dataeffectiveness.com

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mailto:[email protected]


Data is not facts: The impossibility of being unbiased

Data & Analytics

Transcript of Data is not facts: The impossibility of being unbiased