10.01.2013

Professionalizing Data Science: Let's not blindly repeat history.


We're seeing a growing push for the professionalization of Data Science: drawing boundaries around the skills and practices that define the new field, with the goal of deciding exactly who is and isn't a "real" data scientist. Just google "What is a data scientist?" and you'll get dozens of blog posts and articles trying to come to grips with exactly this question.

At some level, this is a bit silly -- just a game of semantics and job titles. Who really cares if I call myself a "statistician," "business analyst," or "data scientist?" As long as I can do the work, it shouldn't matter.


On the other hand, in other fields, professionalization has been a powerful force for both good and bad. At their best, professional career tracks attract talent, improve training, educate the public, and establish communities of practice that accelerate innovation and improvement. At their worst, professions can become self-serving cartels, excluding many competent practitioners so that the lucky few can hoard influence and wealth. According to George Bernard Shaw, "every profession is a conspiracy against the laity."

AFAICT, the professionalization of data science is playing out in all the usual ways: For those of us who identify as data scientists, starting down the path of professionalization feels new, exciting, and uncertain. Maybe we're seeing the formation of a new professional identity -- or maybe the whole thing is going to fly apart. worries about shoddy practitioners, calls for codes of ethics, institutionalized education and credentialing. I can't tell yet if any of this is going to stick. I just know there's a lot of buzz and the possibility that we're at the start of something new and big.

Does that orange arrow remind anyone else of a devil's tail?

Either way, I'd like to understand where we're headed, to shape the trends in constructive ways. With all that as background, I'm looking for books that tell the history of professions -- how a given circle of people came to be accepted as experts in a given domain. If something of the kind is happening with "Data Science," I don't want to be doomed to repeat history.



So far, I've got Schudson's Discovering the News (about journalism), and Lemann's The Big Test (about psychology and academic admissions). Yes, the second one is a bit of a stretch -- this is why I'm asking for help!

What other books would you recommend?  For example, I'd love to read a good, textured history of the AMA, the bar, or teacher's unions.  Theory-oriented stuff from sociology or econ would be interesting, too, as long as it's not too stuffy. Ideas?


Questions of interest:
  • For each field, how did the boundaries get drawn?  For example, why do we regard dentists differently from doctors?
  • Who were the major drivers behind professionalization in each field?  What were the factions within each movement?
  • At what point did the field come to share a common identity?
  • Are there typical stages that professionalization follows? 
  • etc.
I'm open to other questions as well.  These are just for starters.

51 comments:

  1. I like the cartoon. So here in Maryland I work as a business analyst, but I guess if I moved to California I'd become a data scientist.
    I personally think that professionalizing the position of data scientist would not serve many purposes:
    1 - Since it is a sector that relies on technology, which changes so quickly, the skill set put into place to define what a "real" data scientist is would fairly quickly become outdated. This would be made even worse by the fact that changing the requirements would usually requires to different players (i.e. universities, professional associations...) to reach some type of universal agreement.
    2 - Codes of ethics / shoddy practitioners: would professionalization solve anything? I mean you are either honest or you're not. It's not some type of class that will teach you honesty. Maybe Bernard Madoff aced all his business ethics classes, in the end he is still a crook.

    It's funny you talked about semantics and job titles. I was reading an article about the best-payed software engineers (http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/10/salaries/) and in the comment section the discussion quickly turned to the difference between a software engineer, programmer and architect.

    I think at the end of the day, it's all about what you can do, not what your job title is.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've been itching for someone to ask for a historical/sociological perspective on this live (if inane) debate.

    I've got you right here: http://www.amazon.com/The-System-Professions-Division-Expert/dp/0226000699

    It trades in sociological theory but the ideas are pretty on-point (read: professional requirements = boundary maintenance) and it has three case studies, including the "information professions".

    Would love to see a follow up post on the Strata blog once you've done your research. =)

    ReplyDelete
  3. @Alexis - At an individual level, I completely agree that ability trumps semantics -- just get the job done, and the title doesn't really matter.

    At a group level, professions have a way of taking on a life of their own. If you want to "practice law," you have to go to law school, pass the bar, and (usually) be hired by a law firm. Those barriers didn't always exist, but they put serious constraints on the practice today.

    Nothing of the kind exists yet in data science, but I'm seeing stirrings of it. To your point about technology -- I suspect this actually cuts the other direction. The fact that data-centric technologies are under active development means that it's increasingly hard for laymen to participate. I've just finished reading "The Age of Edison," about the mass-marketing of electric lighting, and there's a fascinating set of chapters on how electricians formed a profession -- right in the middle of very active technological innovation around lighting.

    ReplyDelete
  4. @Juan-Pablo - You're the third person to recommend Abbott; I guess I'll need to cave and buy it. What other questions do you think need to be asked?

    ReplyDelete
  5. In this procedure, Data researcher needs to recognize and move the information from various sources into their Data Science condition after that they run the analysis. data science course in pune

    ReplyDelete
  6. Excellent Blog! I would like to thank for the efforts you have made in writing this post.
    data science course

    ReplyDelete
  7. Excelr is providing emerging & trending technology training, such as for data science, Machine learning, Artificial Intelligence, AWS, Tableau, Digital Marketing. Excelr is standing as a leader in providing quality training on top demanding technologies in 2019. Excelr`s versatile training is making a huge difference all across the globe. Enable ?business analytics? skills in you, and the trainers who were delivering training on these are industry stalwarts. Get certification on "data science course in india" and get trained with Excelr.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am really enjoying reading your well written articles. It looks like you spend a lot of effort and time on your blog. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work.
    analytics certification

    ReplyDelete
  9. Great post i must say and thanks for the information. Education is definitely a sticky subject. However, is still among the leading topics of our time. I appreciate your post and look forward to more.
    ExcelR data science

    ReplyDelete
  10. I just got to this amazing site not long ago. I was actually captured with the piece of resources you have got here. Big thumbs up for making such wonderful blog page!
    ExcelR Data Analytics Course

    ReplyDelete
  11. Excellent Blog! I would like to thank for the efforts you have made in writing this post. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well. I wanted to thank you for this websites! Thanks for sharing. Great websites!
    Please check ExcelR Data Science Certification

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for the informative and helpful post, obviously in your blog everything is good.. ExcelR Data Scientist Courses In Pune

    ReplyDelete
  13. This post is very simple to read and appreciate without leaving any details out. Great work!
    Please check ExcelR Data Science Courses

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is a wonderful article, Given so much info in it, These type of articles keeps the users interest in the website, and keep on sharing more ... good luck.… data science courses

    ReplyDelete
  15. It's late finding this act. At least, it's a thing to be familiar with that there are such events exist. I agree with your Blog and I will be back to inspect it more in the future so please keep up your act.
    ExcelR Data Analytics Course
    Data Science Interview Questions

    ReplyDelete
  16. Awesome blog. I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work!
    data analytics course mumbai
    data science interview questions

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have to search sites with relevant information on given topic and provide them to teacher our opinion and the article.


    Pedodontics

    ReplyDelete
  18. Such a very useful post. Very interesting to read this blog.I would like to thank you for the efforts you had made for writing this awesome blog.  
    Data Science Training in Houston, TX    

    ReplyDelete
  19. I am genuinely thankful to the holder of this web page who has shared this wonderful paragraph at at this place

    data science course
    360DigiTMG

    ReplyDelete
  20. Mmm.. good to be here in your article or post, whatever, I think I should also work hard for my own website like I see some good and updated working in your site.

    data science course
    360DigiTMG

    ReplyDelete
  21. Machine Learning Courses in Pune I really enjoy reading and also appreciate your work.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I wanted to leave a little comment to support you and wish you a good continuation. Wishing you the best of luck for all your blogging efforts.
    Data Analytics Course Pune wow... what a great blog, this writter who wrote this article it's realy a great blogger, this article so inspiring me to be a better person in some of them hope you will give more information on this topics in your next articles.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Its as if you had a great grasp on the subject matter, but you forgot to include your readers. Perhaps you should think about this from more than one angle.
    business analytics certification

    ReplyDelete
  24. Nice content and interesting blog. Join 360digitmg for the data scientist course.
    https://360digitmg.com/data-science-course-training-in-hyderabad

    ReplyDelete
  25. I've read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some interesting things or suggestions. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I want to read more things about it!
    data scientist courses

    ReplyDelete
  26. I Want to leave a little comment to support and wish you the best of luck.we wish you the best of luck in all your blogging endeavors.Business Analytics course in bangalore

    ReplyDelete
  27. Great post i must say and thanks for the information. Education is definitely a sticky subject. However, is still among the leading topics of our time. I appreciate your post and look forward to more.

    Data Analytics courses

    ReplyDelete
  28. Awesome blog. I enjoyed reading your articles. This is truly a great read for me. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work!

    Data Analyst course

    ReplyDelete
  29. I like viewing web sites which comprehend the price of delivering the excellent useful resource free of charge. I truly adored reading your posting. Thank you!

    Data Analyst course

    ReplyDelete
  30. I feel very grateful that I read this. It is very helpful and very informative and I really learned a lot from it.

    business analytics course in delhi

    ReplyDelete
  31. I feel very grateful that I read this. It is very helpful and very informative and I really learned a lot from it.

    business analytics course in delhi

    ReplyDelete
  32. I feel very grateful that I read this. It is very helpful and very informative and I really learned a lot from it.
    ExcelR - Data Science, Data Analytics Course Training in Bangalore
    address:49, 1st Cross, 27th Main, Behind Tata Motors, 1st Stage, BTM Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560068
    Phone: 096321 56744

    enquiry@excelr.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Really nice and interesting post. I was looking for this kind of information and enjoyed reading this one. Keep posting. Thanks for sharing.
    ExcelR - Data Science, Data Analytics Course Training in Bangalore
    address:49, 1st Cross, 27th Main, Behind Tata Motors, 1st Stage, BTM Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560068
    Phone: 096321 56744

    enquiry@excelr.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I really enjoy simply reading all of your weblogs. Simply wanted to inform you that you have people like me who appreciate your work. Definitely a great post. Hats off to you! The information that you have provided is very helpful.

    ExcelR - Data Science, Data Analytics Course Training in Bangalore
    address:49, 1st Cross, 27th Main, Behind Tata Motors, 1st Stage, BTM Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560068
    Phone: 096321 56744

    enquiry@excelr.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I finally found great post here.I will get back here. I just added your blog to my bookmark sites. thanks.Quality posts is the crucial to invite the visitors to visit the web page, that's what this web page is providing.
    ExcelR - Data Science, Data Analytics Course Training in Bangalore
    address:49, 1st Cross, 27th Main, Behind Tata Motors, 1st Stage, BTM Layout, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560068
    Phone: 096321 56744

    enquiry@excelr.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Great blog post and thanks for expressing in way humor way that it doesn't matter what you called yourself,"statistician," "business analyst," or "data scientist?" As long as I can do the work, it shouldn't matter.
    visit us: Data Analytics Course in Roorkee


    ReplyDelete
  37. thank you for showing how to proffesionlize data science. Visit us: Data Science Course in meerut

    ReplyDelete
  38. Thanks this article gives more information on data science fundamentals.
    Visit us:Data Science Course in Rohtak

    ReplyDelete
  39. I like viewing web sites which comprehend the price of delivering the excellent useful resource free of charge. I truly adored reading your posting. Thank you!
    best data science institute in hyderabad


    ReplyDelete
  40. After reading your article I was amazed. I know that you explain it very well. And I hope that other readers will also experience how I feel after reading your article.
    data science training

    ReplyDelete
  41. 360DigiTMG, the top-rated organisation among the most prestigious industries around the world, is an educational destination for those looking to pursue their dreams around the globe. The company is changing careers of many people through constant improvement, 360DigiTMG provides an outstanding learning experience and distinguishes itself from the pack. 360DigiTMG is a prominent global presence by offering world-class training. Its main office is in India and subsidiaries across Malaysia, USA, East Asia, Australia, Uk, Netherlands, and the Middle East.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Casino & Games, Slot Machines - Film File Europe
    The Casino 스포츠토토 확률 샤오미 Game Experience 도박 365 - ㅇㄱㅂㄹ 후기 Slots, Video Poker, Keno, Video Poker, Keno, Video Slots and many others 샤오미토토 have their own games like 후스코어 video slots.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Thank you very much for sharing such a useful article. Will definitely saved and revisit your site
    cyber security course

    ReplyDelete
  44. It would help if you thought that the data scientists are the highest-paid employees in a company.
    data science course in kochi

    ReplyDelete
  45. I found the section on data visualization particularly interesting and well-explained.360 DigiTMG Provides
    data science training institute in bangalore



    ReplyDelete

  46. The explanations of various predictive modeling techniques in this article are detailed yet easy to follow.data analyst course fees in chennai

    ReplyDelete