Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT

Statisticians have a public duty to maintain integrity in their professional work, particularly in the application of statistical skills to problems where private interests may inappropriately affect the development or application of statistical knowledge. For these reasons, statisticians should

1. present their findings and interpretations honestly and objectively

2. avoid untrue, deceptive, or undocumented statements

3. disclose any financial or other interests that may affect, or appear to affect, their professional statements

Recognizing that collecting data for a statistical inquiry may impose a burden on respondents, that it may be viewed by some as an invasion of privacy, and that it often involves legitimate confidentiality considerations, statisticians should

1. collect only the data needed for the purpose of their inquiry

2. inform each potential respondent about the general nature and sponsorship of the inquiry and the intended use of the data

3. establish their intentions, where pertinent, to protect the confidentiality of information collected from respondents, strive to ensure that these intentions realistically reflect their ability to do so, and clearly state pledges of confidentiality and their limitations to the respondents

4. ensure that the means are adequate to protect confidentiality to the extent pledged or intended, that processing and use of data conform with the pledges made, that appropriate care is taken with directly identifying information (using such steps as destroying this type of information or removing it from the file when it is no longer needed for the inquiry), that appropriate techniques are applied to control statistical disclosure

5. ensure that, whenever data are transferred to other persons or organizations, this transfer conforms with the established confidentiality pledges, and require written assurance from the recipients of the data that the measures employed to protect confidentiality will be at least equal to those originally pledged

Recognizing that statistical work must be visible and open to assessment with respect to quality and appropriateness in order to advance knowledge, and that such assessment may involve an explanation of the assumptions, methodology, and data processing used, statisticians should

1. delineate the boundaries of the inquiry as well as the boundaries of the statistical inferences which can be derived from it

2. emphasize that statistical analysis may be an essential component of an inquiry and should be acknowledged in the same manner as other essential components

3. be prepared to document data sources used in an inquiry; known inaccuracies in the data; and steps taken to correct or refine the data, statistical procedures applied to the data, and the assumptions required for their application

4. make the data available for analysis by other responsible parties with appropriate safeguards for privacy concerns

5. recognize that the selection of a statistical procedure may to some extent be a matter of judgment and that other statisticians may select alternative procedures

6. direct any criticism of a statistical inquiry to the inquiry itself and not to the individuals conducting it

Recognizing that a client or employer may be unfamiliar with statistical practice and be dependent upon the statistician for expert advice, statisticians should

1. make clear their qualifications to undertake that statistical inquiry at hand

2. inform a client or employer of all factors that may affect or conflict with their impartiality

3. accept no contingency fee arrangements

4. fulfill all commitments in any inquiry undertaken

5. apply statistical procedures without concern for a favorable outcome

6. state clearly, accurately, and completely to a client the characteristics of alternate statistical procedures along with the recommended methodology and the usefulness and implications of all possible approaches

7. disclose no private information about or belonging to any present or former client without the clients approval

Comments?

ASA members are invited to submit their comments or ethical scenarios for the consideration by the ASA Committee on Professional Ethics.