Ethics and Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Statistics Education

• Activity Number: 665
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 13, 2015 : 10:30 AM to 12:20 PM
• Sponsor: Committee on Professional Ethics
• Author(s): Alan Elliott*
• Companies: Southern Methodist University
• Keywords: Ethics ; cross-cultural ; teaching ; diversity ; multi-cultural ; Confucian Philosophies

Abstract

As young statisticians embark on a career of collaborating with other scientists, they must understand their role as statistical professionals in making ethical decisions in a multi-cultural world. This presentation suggests a method of presenting training in applied ethical decision making in graduate-level statistical consulting courses. The purpose of the lessons are to prepare statistical practitioners to understand the concepts behind multi-cultural applied ethical decision-making and to help them understand ethical issues that will arise in their professional lives. Using resources from both western and eastern (primarily Chinese) philosophies, these lessons encourage statistical professionals to make ethical decisions based on conscious and conscientious reflection.