While we often see data used in the news and social media we don’t always see critical appraisal of datasets. These aspects can help us determine if datasets are inclusive or what stories a dataset can tell. For example, in Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men, Caroline Criado-Perez investigated the lack of representation of women’s health data and the real world impacts of this bias. When considering a dataset to answer a research question, we might examine when, who, and how the data was gathered. By asking these questions and critically examining data sets we disrupt potential biases and marginalizing narratives about diverse communities as well as create space for richer information and research via qualitative methods.
