Data Ethics

Data ethics involves the collection, analysis, use, and sharing of data in an ethical manner. These are often governed by specific laws, policies, regulations, standards, and disciplinary practices. 

This guide provides resources related to various issues in data ethics. Free and library-accessible resources are provided, as well as campus resources and services.

Available via OSU Libraries:

• Data : Ethical Use and Storage 
• With Big Data Comes Big Responsibility 
• Data fraud in clinical trials 
• Spotlight on Data : Data Pipelines and Power Imbalances-3 Cautionary Tales with Catherine D'Ignazio and Lauren Klein 
• Case study : how DataKind walked back a project when ethical issues arose 
• Data Mining : Big Data's Increasing Challenge and Payoff 

Available via YouTube:

• BBC: The Ethics of Data - The Physical Internet
• BBC: The Ethics of Data - Education & Self-management
• BBC: The Ethics of Data - Personal Data & Privacy
• BBC: The Ethics of Data - Ownership & Choice
• BBC: The Ethics of Personal Data
• TED Talk: The hidden ethics of our personal data
• TED Talk: The ethics of collecting data
• Henrietta Lacks, the Tuskegee Experiment, and Ethical Data Collection
• Introduction to Data Ethics
• The Ethics of Data - Ownership & Choice

Ohio State has multiple classes that deal with data and ethics, but no course that wholly and exclusively addresses data ethics. Consider examining these courses as potential subject-based options that may address ethics as part of their coverage:

• COMM 4221 - Data Journalism in Enterprise Reporting
• CONSCI 3940 - Consumer Information: Methods of Data Analysis
• CSE 5243 - Introduction to Data Mining
• GEOG 5502 - Data Justice and the Right to the Smart City
• GRADTDA 5625 - Seminar in Data Governance
• GRADTDA 5627 - Design Thinking and Data in Practice
• HIMS 5537 - Healthcare Data Trending and Analytics
• HIMS 5540 - Healthcare Data Management and Analysis
• MCR 4460 - Clinical Trials Data Management and Monitoring
• PHILOS 1520 - Probability, Data, and Decision Making
• PUBAFRS 4040 - Public Sector Data Sciences and Management
• STAT 3410 - Principles of Data Collection and Analysis