Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2023 - SDA 270 D100

Data, Ethics and Society (3)

Class Number: 7222

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 11, 2023: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

This course would introduce students to the ethical, legal, and privacy issues surrounding the collection and use of big data and the implications of these for vulnerable populations. Students with credit for PHIL 270 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

[Note: this course is to be taught concurrently with PHIL 270.]

This course will examine ethical questions that arise in the collection and use of data, including the following:

  • When should considerations of privacy constrain what data we gather, and how should we balance privacy against other competing values?
  • Sometimes algorithms incorporate biases or lead to discriminatory analyses, rather than offering objectivity.  What ethical responsibilities does this give us?
  • Are there ethical reasons to avoid gathering data about some things (for example, if the information might be used in harmful ways)?
  • What metrics should we use, and how can we navigate gaps between what it's feasible to measure and what it's important to know?  Do measures like quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and gross domestic product (GDP) reflect what we should value in health policy and economic policy?

Course assignments will focus on helping students to analyze the arguments in course readings, to develop well-supported critiques of those arguments, and to defend those analyses in clearly written papers.

 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

This course is required for the Social Data Analytics Minor. 

Grading

  • Two 4-5 page papers (30% each) 60%
  • Ethics Consultation Report 25%
  • Quality of Course Engagement (quality of written work in five, short, reading response exercises + quality of contributions to class discussion, including in break-out groups + (optionally) quality of in-class reading worksheets) 15%

NOTES:

Course delivery:  remote, synchronous.  All students must be available to participate in classes over Zoom during the scheduled class period.

 

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

This course will meet over Zoom during the scheduled class period.  Students will need a microphone and high-speed internet access that will allow them to view live video and contribute to discussions and class activities over audio.  A camera is optional.  Technical specifications for compatibility with Zoom are available here

REQUIRED READING:

All readings will be available on the course’s Canvas page.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html