Findings and Recommendations from the ASA Antiracism Task Force Subcommittee for Advancing Racial Justice in the Practice of Statistics

• Activity Number: 84 - Making ASA an Anti-Racist Organization: Report from the ASA Anti-Racism Task Force
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Monday, August 8, 2022 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion Outreach Group
• Author(s): Emily Hadley* and Necip Doganaksoy and Susan Halabi and Ofer Harel and David A Marker and Miles Ott and Douglas Samuelson and Abdus Wahed
• Companies: RTI International and Siena College and Duke University School of Medicine and University of Connecticut and Marker Consulting, LLC and Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson and InfoLogix, Inc. and University of Pittsburgh
• Keywords: Antiracism; Applied Statistics; Racial Justice

Abstract

As statisticians and data scientists who may work with data collected from and complete research that impacts individuals and entities across the globe, we have a responsibility to consider the ways in which we can advance, foster, and support racial justice in the practice of statistics. In Fall 2020, the subcommittee for Advancing Racial Justice in the Practice of Statistics was formed by the ASA Antiracism Task Force. Over the past year and a half, we have gathered knowledge from literature and the statistical community regarding the state of racial justice in the practice of statistics. In this session, we discuss findings and recommendations in four key areas: gaps in policy where ASA members can advocate for antiracist use of statistics; development of antiracist statistical and data science educational resources and tools; approaches that organizations and institutions can use to support antiracist applications of statistics and data science; and opportunities to amplify, shape, enhance, and develop antiracist statistical methodology, tools, processes, and decision-making approaches for technical contributors. We discuss next steps and opportunities for involvement.