Is This Data Science?

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Is This Data Science?

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

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January 8, 2018 at 8:49 pm

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Brent Ozar SSCrazy Points: 2451 More actions · Answer 1

Thanks for the link!

When I wrote that post, I tried to go really far out of my way to go, "Look, seriously, I don't know anything about data science, but those of you who do should take a look at these numbers." I know my limitations, and I ain't no data scientist, heh.

avdb SSC Journeyman Points: 88 More actions · Answer 2

This is the best representation of what makes a good data scientist

Image result for data scientist venn diagram

xsevensinzx One Orange Chip Points: 25560 More actions · Answer 3

It's true that data science is on the rise. I know in my area, the amount of jobs have dramatically increased. Likewise, similar roles that entail what DBA's do have also increased either in the traditional DBA title or the new spin-off and more developer focused role -- the data engineer. In that, I feel there is a positive relationship between both where if data science continues to rise, so will our jobs in helping support them. The question comes up, at what point does one or the other absorb the other where one is not needed anymore if that should happen ever? My opinion is likely never as they generally follow two different passions in their roles that one or the other does not like to do.

Brent Ozar SSCrazy Points: 2451 More actions · Answer 4

xsevensinzx - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 6:30 AM
The issue however is something I feel is plaguing our school systems here in the US with common core math. Both analysis maybe came to the same conclusion, but maybe one wasted a lot of effort in doing so versus just taking the data for face value and doing what we always do with the data. Yet, one broken it down, explained the methods, identified weakness and approached in a more verbose way of proof versus quick and easy.

Isn't that just like anything, though? You start with a quick proof of concept, and if it produces interesting results, you put more effort into it to make it production quality.

it's the same way with app development, lean methodology, agile, etc. You wouldn't want to put days of work into something without doing a quick check first.

Eric M Russell SSC Guru Points: 125561 More actions · Answer 5

To answer the question "Is what we're doing with this data really data science?", we first must ask the question "What is science?". Technology and process aside, science is first and foremost the pursuit of facts and truth. If your job or hobby is primarily concerned with promoting things like: politics, marketing, social justice, or profit at the expense of facts and truth, then one is really not a scientist and the endeavor itself can't be called data science.

My opinion about "data scientists" who work for political or marketing firms is the same as my opinion about a "nutritionist" who works on staff for McDonalds.

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

xsevensinzx One Orange Chip Points: 25560 More actions · Answer 6

Eric M Russell - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 7:00 AM
My opinion about "data scientists" who work for political or marketing firms is the same as my opinion about a "nutritionist" who works on staff for McDonalds.

Care to expand on that?

Rod at work SSC-Dedicated Points: 34007 More actions · Answer 7

Thanks for this article, Steve. I love data analysis, largely because I love Math. Got my degree in Mathematics. However, your article also points out that just knowing math or statistics isn't enough. You've got to also have an understanding of what the numbers mean relative to what they cover.

Kindest Regards, Rod Connect with me on LinkedIn.

RandomStream Hall of Fame Points: 3735 More actions · Answer 8

Rod at work - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 9:14 AM
Thanks for this article, Steve. I love data analysis, largely because I love Math. Got my degree in Mathematics. However, your article also points out that just knowing math or statistics isn't enough. You've got to also have an understanding of what the numbers mean relative to what they cover.

If I were to acquire some basic statistic skills by self-learning, what resources do you recommend? I am not strong at math. Thanks.

Eric M Russell SSC Guru Points: 125561 More actions · Answer 9

xsevensinzx - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 9:14 AM
Eric M Russell - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 7:00 AM
My opinion about "data scientists" who work for political or marketing firms is the same as my opinion about a "nutritionist" who works on staff for McDonalds.
Care to expand on that?

The role of a Scientist shouldn't be to promote some political cause or corporate interest. If that's what someone is doing, then they're more of a data artist or data activist, and creating a data visualization is conceptually no different than creating a TV add or propaganda poster.

I'm just saying that, in response to the question posed by the forum: If it isn't science, then it shouldn't be called data science.

- Do polls capture public opinion or manufacture it?
https://blogs.worldbank.org/publicsphere/do-polls-capture-public-opinion-or-manufacture-it
- McDonaldâ€™s Nutritionist Cindy Goody: Our Food Is Healthy
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/mcdonalds-nutrition_n_2980991.html
- Liberating the Data Artist: Rethinking Creativity in Data Science
https://datasciencedojo.com/creativity-in-data-science/

"Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the wise. Instead, seek what they sought." - Matsuo Basho

xsevensinzx One Orange Chip Points: 25560 More actions · Answer 10

Eric M Russell - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 1:23 PM
xsevensinzx - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 9:14 AM
Eric M Russell - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 7:00 AM
My opinion about "data scientists" who work for political or marketing firms is the same as my opinion about a "nutritionist" who works on staff for McDonalds.
Care to expand on that?
The role of a Scientist shouldn't be to promote some political cause or corporate interest. If that's what someone is doing, then they're more of a data artist or data activist, and creating a data visualization is conceptually no different than creating a TV add or propaganda poster.
I'm just saying that, in response to the question posed by the forum: If it isn't science, then it shouldn't be called data science.
- Do polls capture public opinion or manufacture it?
https://blogs.worldbank.org/publicsphere/do-polls-capture-public-opinion-or-manufacture-it
- McDonaldâ€™s Nutritionist Cindy Goody: Our Food Is Healthy
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/29/mcdonalds-nutrition_n_2980991.html
- Liberating the Data Artist: Rethinking Creativity in Data Science
https://datasciencedojo.com/creativity-in-data-science/

Not sure that I am following. Regardless of any bias you have against politics and marketing, the data scientist is modular in the sense they are asking questions about the business and making recommendations to push the business objective. This is very common and applies to most areas. And they do this without bias were giving an example of the nutritionist would actually suggest the opposite in the terms of eating more junk food (increase sales) due to said bias.

Rod at work SSC-Dedicated Points: 34007 More actions · Answer 11

RandomStream - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 9:52 AM
Rod at work - Tuesday, January 9, 2018 9:14 AM
Thanks for this article, Steve. I love data analysis, largely because I love Math. Got my degree in Mathematics. However, your article also points out that just knowing math or statistics isn't enough. You've got to also have an understanding of what the numbers mean relative to what they cover.
If I were to acquire some basic statistic skills by self-learning, what resources do you recommend? I am not strong at math. Thanks.

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you.

As I see it the primary skill for data analysis, from the Math point of view, is statistics and probability.

Kindest Regards, Rod Connect with me on LinkedIn.