Collecting data to tell your own stories

Some elements of history, statistics, and survey design

The early days of statistics

Inventories, lists, censuses

(a) Census Roman Empire

(b) Dutch bigwigs

Figure 1

The Census and the US population

The Census and the US population

The Census and the US population

• The US Census
  • A constitutional right
  • Assess every 10 years the equilibrium between each US State and their number of representatives at the Congress
• How?
  • Census Bureau
• What?
  • Population
  • Demographics (age,sex,race)
  • Economic (employment, income)
  • Social (education, marital status)
  • Housing (ownership, rent, number of rooms)

New Yorker illustration

Critical Approaches to Quantification

Quantitative Critical Research

• Data and Methods are Not Neutral
  • Biases in data collection and analysis
  • Structural racism and sexism affect data collection
• Groups are Neither Natural nor Inherent
  • Identities are socially constructed and fluid
  • Identity is multifaceted
• Valuing Narrative and Counter-Narrative
  • Importance of lived experiences and counter-narratives
  • Importance of data proficiency to tell your own stories

Survey data

Example: the Happiness Survey

Example: the Happiness Survey

Principles for survey design

1. Objective(s): Why
2. Target population: Who
3. Questions: What
4. Method of data collection: How