BookmarkSubscribeRSS Feed

Integrity - An essential skill in a SAS User's Toolbox

Started ‎10-08-2015 by
Modified ‎08-04-2021 by
Views 1,503

To thine own self be true – Shakespeare

 

Data analysis is one of the greatest passions in my life; being able to take complex data and convert it into a story is absolutely amazing.  Being able to support users, and show them tips and tricks to make them more efficient, is definitely an added bonus.  One aspect of data analysis and data management that’s often neglected in blogs and data science books is integrity.  I realise that this may sound like common sense, but I’ve heard enough stories and been in some situations that could have gone very badly, and without my strong sense of honesty (and the support of management), I could have found myself in a really bad situation.

 Integrity.jpg

 

I’m writing this to give you the best advice I can give – be true to yourself.  This isn’t to say be arrogant, condescending, or ignore the direction given by experts.  Rather, constantly ask questions, learn, read – and in time, that information will amalgamate to allow you to become skilled.  But in that time, you may be tempted to take a shortcut, manipulate data to fit your expectations, or provide an interpretation of the data that may be not quite accurate.  Doing something like this is easy, especially if you’re under pressure to get the results you (or your boss) want.  But take a step back and think what the data represents – someone’s lab results that may be a red flag for a disease, account information that may be the difference between someone losing or keeping their house, credit card data that may mean someone’s financial status is damaged. 

 

Hopefully you have someone in your life that you can go to in times that you have questions.  If not, find one – whether it’s a professor, someone in your workplace, even someone online – as long as it’s someone that you are comfortable with going to with a problem, that can understand the data requirements, and who you trust and will listen to.

 

Good luck, stay true, and don’t use exploding pie charts!

Comments

Love this!

If people don't trust you, they won't trust your work! Statistics is difficult for many, so there is a strong requirement on trusting the person preparing the analysis. Integrity in both your work and in your life is important for a successful working relationship 🙂

Thanks. Food for thought.

 

What I find most difficult is dealing with (statistical) insignificance. When, for example, somebody who trusted me with very precious data has strong beliefs in some hypotheses that, it turns out, can't be verified. This is especially frustrating in exploratory studies where insignificance can be the result of statistical corrections for multiple testing. Maintaining trust, integrity and even friendship in those circumstances can require a lot of work.

Version history
Last update:
‎08-04-2021 12:43 PM
Updated by:

sas-innovate-2024.png

Join us for SAS Innovate April 16-19 at the Aria in Las Vegas. Bring the team and save big with our group pricing for a limited time only.

Pre-conference courses and tutorials are filling up fast and are always a sellout. Register today to reserve your seat.

 

Register now!

Free course: Data Literacy Essentials

Data Literacy is for all, even absolute beginners. Jump on board with this free e-learning  and boost your career prospects.

Get Started

Article Labels
Article Tags