"…develop the means to insure the proper interpretation of such information by all relevant parties…"(Ostapski and Superville).
This refers to the ethical dimension of professionalism and to the duty and responsibility of the statistician that extends beyond the technical aspect of his work. Seltzer (2005) makes an important point in this regard. He states that the ethical dimension of statistics is extremely important. We only have to refer to history to encounter examples o situations where scientists did not accept the ethical dimension of their work. Seltzer refers to extreme cases such as the part that science has played in genocide and in the perpetration of atrocities by the Nazis during the Second World War. More commonly, Welter also notes that, "…unaddressed ethical issues simply threaten the credibility of a statistical agency, undermining the trust that data providers, the public, and policy makers place in the agency" (Seltzer, 2005).
Therefore the onus on the statistician is to act and think in a way that includes ethical professionalism. I am of the opinion that if a statistician ignores the ethical dimension of his or her work this leads to a reduction of the integrity of the professions. One cannot ignore the context of the work and the fact that statisticians asre often faced with difficult ethical decisions in the course of their work. I would certainly agree with Ostapski and Superville who suggest that the statistician should ask the following questions:
(1) Is there a duty to act in a certain way that is recognized and also followed by others?
(2) What are the consequences of the proposed action and, most of the time, will it benefit the most people?
(3) Would my decision toward someone else, if it were made concerning me, also be acceptable to me?
(Ostapski and Superville).
I feel that these questions should be an integral part of the statistician's discipline. Furthermore, the...
I do not see statistical work as being ethically neutral. In fact, taking into account the Christian perspective, I believe that everything we do and say, especially in our professional lives, has an ethical dimension. In other words, I do not believe that the statistician can "hide" behind facts and figures and have no responsibly for his or her decisions.
Conclusion
In the final analysis the view that sciences and statistics are only concerned with objective techniques of calculation is false. The results of statistical work have social and personal implications and relate to personal and professional integrity. From my point-of-view the statistician like all other scientists has an obligation to his or her society and should be concerned with the greater good of that society. As Ostapski and Superville succinctly state, the statistician has an obligation "…to be a conduit, through the use of data methodology or other means, to promote a better understanding of societal issues"(Ostapski and Superville). The statistician is not only a scientist who evaluates data and makes certain projections but he or she is also an individual with the integrity to ensure that statistical work does not go against the true ideals of science, which is to work for the furtherance of humanity and social good.
References
Geertsema, J. ( 1987). A Christian View of the Foundations of Statistics. Perspectives on Science and Christian Faith, 39(3). Retrieved from http://www.asa3.org/ASA/PSCF/1987/PSCF9-87Geertsema.html
Ostapski, a. And Superville, C. Reflection Before Action: the Statistical Consultant
Confronts Ethical Issues. Retrieved from http://www.westga.edu/~bquest/2001/consultant.htm
Seltzer, W. (2005). Official Statistics and Statistical Ethics: Selected Issues. Retrieved from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/WS%20%202005%20ISI%20paper.pdf
