Concept mapping an ethical
problem
Visually
representing a problem is a great way to help you think through the complexity
of an issue. A concept map helps us see the nature of a problem and helps
uncover the factors that need to be considered in solving it.
In
weeks 1 and 2 you’ve had to take in a lot of new information. A concept map
helps you organize all this new information and make meaningful connections
between ideas.
Module
one has focused on two key things: 1) different types of data and how they are
used and 2) different theoretical approaches to making sense of ethical
issues.
YOUR TASK:
Choose
or invent an ethical problem that has something to do with the collection or
use of data.
Describe
in a sentence
Draw
a concept map
In
one sentence describe what the harm or stakes are
*
this diagram will be used to complete part 2 of assessment one which is a
written article.
•
Concept maps show cause-effect relationships. Each box should be
logically linked to another box. This should create a logical sequence
demonstrating how Box A leads to Box B.
• The creating and refining of a concept map will give you the
opportunity to think reflectively about how new knowledge builds up and relates
to previous knowledge.
• It will stimulate thinking by plotting out various relationships
between the criteria.
• Be creative, each map is the expression of one’s own thought
process.
• If colors are used to represent different categories, criteria,
themes, etc., the colors should be referenced in the legend.
• Connect boxes, using lines or arcs (dotted or solid), to show
directional relationships between/among concepts. Every box should have a line
(with an arrow) linking it to another box or bubble. There should be no
‘stand-alone’ elements on your diagram unless you’re deliberately trying to
show that something exists in isolation with regard to the rest of the mapped
problem space.
PROMPT (Getting Started):
Use
the following table to come up with a problem to map.
Area of ethical concern
Ethical problems
Ownership – the extent to which
individuals own their data
Voluntary participation in data
regimes. The presence of obligations or repercussions for contributing data
or allowing data to be collected.
Transparency – when personal data is
used, individuals should know what transactions have occurred and what algorithmic
processes are used to transform it.
Informed consent where those
participating in data regimes are made aware of the purpose for data
collection and any negative consequences.
Consent – if an organization or
legal entity wants to use an individual’s personal data then it must seek
consent and declare what personal data is being shared, to whom, when and for
what purposes.
Confidentiality and Anonymity –
how is data kept confidential and/or what methods have been used to anonymize
personally identifiable data points?
Privacy – When data is transacted
between parties have all efforts been made to preserve privacy?
Potential for harm
– physical harm, psychological harm, emotional harm, embarrassment
(i.e., social harm), unfair targeting, racial profiling, doxing, etc.
Currency – Individuals should be
made aware of the value of the data about them that are held by third parties
and be informed about the extent to which third parties generate profit/value
from their data.
Conflicts of interest – gaining
personal, competitive, political, or commercial advantage from data
collection, analysis, or sharing
Openness – The extent to which
data is made freely available and the extent to which it’s made available in
formats that allow processing and transformation.
Deceit or falsification – data
collectors providing misleading information or data contributors deliberately
providing false information.
Consider
how the data is collected, how it is protected when the company stores it, and
whether consumers have a say in how their information is used.
FORMAT and TOOLS:
Complexity
diagrams help us tell a particular story about an issue that avoids the tendency
to simplify, reduce or exclude aspects of the problem that might be hard to
make sense of. By embracing complexity we can not only propose better ethical
solutions but we can also communicate the value of a particular ethical
perspective or approach.
While
there is no fixed, prescribed, or recommended method to use to draw your
diagram some of these techniques and tools might help.
Brainstorming is
a familiar method that you can use individually or in groups to quickly list
ideas about a particular problem in a way where one idea might lead to another
(and another). You can then organize your ideas according to different ways
that they relate to the problem that you are trying to solve.
Affinity
mapping is a technique that can help you add depth and detail to the
information uncovered in a brainstorming session. This is done by grouping
items by similarity, relatedness, or affinity and then trying to characterize
the relationship between affinity clusters.
Note
that your diagram is very much a work in progress and will form the basis of
the article that you will write as the second component of this assessment
task.
You
may use visual editing/design programs to create your complexity diagram or you
may choose to draw yours freehand and upload it in a scanned digital format.
Some tools that you can use:
Miro https://miro.com/ (Links to an external site.)
MS Visio https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/microsoft-365/visio/flowchart-software (Links to an external site.)
Lucidchart https://www.lucidchart.com/pages/ (Links to an external
site.)
Please
don’t hand-draw your diagrams, it’s difficult for us to mark them when they’re
submitted like that.
Rubric
A1-concept map
A1-concept
map
Criteria
Ratings
Pts
This
criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeLevel of engagement with concepts and synthesis
of course materials into a cohesive visual narrative.
The
extent to which care has been taken to draw from the week 1-2 material and
develop it into a cohesive narrative that conveys a sense of mastery of the
concepts and some consideration of the connection between perspectives on
data as an object of ethical concern and how different perspectives on ethics
when applied show us different things and lead us, potentially, towards
different outcomes.
5 pts
This
criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeClarity and flow of the diagram
Information
is conveyed very clearly and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of
the concepts that are expressed in clear and concise terms.
5 pts
Total Points: 10