Overview
Students examine the assumptions they make when interpreting data and visualizations by first reading a report about the "Digital Divide" which challenges the assumption that data collected online is representative of the population at large. Students also evaluate a series of scenarios in which data-driven decisions are made based on flawed assumptions.Resources
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Digital Divide and Checking Assumptions - Activity Guide (copy as MS Word, Google Doc)
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Google Trends Video - Video
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Wired - What Can We Learn from the Epic Failure of Google Flu Trends - Article
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NY Times - Google Flu Trends: The Limits of Big Data - Article
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Nature - When Google Got Flu Wrong - Article
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Time - Google's Flu Project Shows the Failings of Big Data - Article
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Harvard Business Review - Google Flu Trends' Failure Shows Good Data > Big Data - Article