Data Humanism

Data is never raw or objective

Illustrative examples

Data is personal

InfoVis Process Model

Raw data -> Data Tables -> Visual Structures -> Views

Data transformations, visual mappings, view transformations

Data: which is given

Capta: which is taken

Data is constructed, recorded, and collected as the result of human decisions - what, how, when

How to be objective?

mindful what to vis

invite others to question and share

learn about vis uncertainty

stress test for possible interpretations

Visualizing social inequality makes it worse

deficit thinking: deficit framing -> blaming -> stereoptypes

hiding variabilities increases stereotyping

Ethical data vis

42 interviews in rural america:
show them 10 graphs about drug addiction, rank

data is intimate and personal.
personal connections over everything

know the source: high degrees change ranking

Obligations as vis researchers: make invisivle visible

vis hidden labor

vis hidden uncertainty

vis hidden impacts

collect data with empathy

encourage small data

anthropomorphize data

obfuscate data to protect privacy

challenge structures of power

support data "due process"

advocate for data

pressure unethical behavior

balance effective and humane

example: vis salaries of professor