Week 12

Ethical Responsibility in Statistical Practice

This week focuses on ethical responsibility in statistical consulting. Beyond technical correctness, statisticians must navigate pressures related to study design, reporting, media interpretation, authorship, and conflicts of interest. Through case examination, we will consider how to respond when professional judgment intersects with ethical responsibility.

By the end of this week, you will be able to: 1. Identify ethical risks that arise in statistical consulting and research reporting. 2. Articulate a professional response to ethically challenging situations.

Complete Before Class

Project Progress

👥 Meet with your group and make progress on the following questions about your project:

• Bring a draft of your presentation to the synchronous session.

Ethics

📖 I Fooled Millions Into Thinking Chocolate Helps Weight Loss. Here's How. (13 minutes)

➤ Which flaw in this study most undermines its credibility, and why?
➤ Bohannon reports that “if you lay out the information just right, you can shape the story that emerges in the media almost like you were writing those stories yourself.” Who bears the most responsibility when misleading findings are amplified??

🎥 The Potti Case (14 minutes)

➤ What systemic failures allowed this case to persist?

Supplemental Readings

📖 Ethical Guidelines for Statistical Practice

In Class

In class, we will work through ethical case scenarios in small groups. You will identify the ethical risks involved and determine how you would respond as a professional statistician.

Reflection

What ethical situation do you think would be hardest for you to navigate, and why?