Question

How are those without access to the internet or technology represented in data science? Or to ask the question another way, how do you account for a lack of responses or data? A common situation I think about is when crime data is analyzed, but how do you account for crime that doesn’t get reported to accurately represent the information?

Answer 1

Data science may not fully represent those without technology access due to the digital divide and data availability issues. Researchers use content analysis and address biases to improve data representation. Providing technology access through initiatives helps mitigate these challenges.

Step-by-step explanation:

Those without access to the internet or technology may be underrepresented in data science due to the digital divide and a lack of available data. This situation is analogous to challenges faced when accounting for underreported or unreported crimes in criminal data analysis. Researchers employ methods such as content analysis and careful consideration of operational definitions to mitigate issues of data underrepresentation. They must also account for various sources of bias and potential inaccuracies in self-reported data. In some instances, researchers confront the challenge of designing web surveys to be accessible across different devices, while preventing multiple responses from the same individual or distorted demographics. Additionally, providing opportunities for those lacking technology access, such as computing education programs and partnerships, can help address the lack in representation of certain populations in computing-related fields.