You’re A What??? Taking Stock of the Data Profession Paul H. Bern Numeric Data Services Librarian Syracuse University

Points to Ponder What is a Data Professional? What is a Data Professional? Is this a legitimate line of work? Is this a legitimate line of work? How does one become a Data Professional? How does one become a Data Professional?

What is a Data Professional? Someone who specializes in the production, archiving, cataloging, documenting, provision, and assistance in the proper use of quantitative and qualitative information gathered through systematic methods. Someone who specializes in the production, archiving, cataloging, documenting, provision, and assistance in the proper use of quantitative and qualitative information gathered through systematic methods. Librarians Librarians Computer technologists Computer technologists Statisticians Statisticians Data Producers Data Producers

Is This Really a Profession? Characteristics of Professions: Characteristics of Professions: Have a commitment to provide a public service Have a commitment to provide a public service There is a public recognition of a certain autonomy to regulate themselves There is a public recognition of a certain autonomy to regulate themselves Have specialized training in a field of codified knowledge acquired by education and training. Have specialized training in a field of codified knowledge acquired by education and training. Sullivan, W.M. (2005) Work and Integrity, p.36

Public Service We make it possible for people to use data by archiving, documenting, programming, analyzing, etc. We make it possible for people to use data by archiving, documenting, programming, analyzing, etc. Many of us are in support roles and perform our duties not for our own benefit, but for someone else’s Many of us are in support roles and perform our duties not for our own benefit, but for someone else’s

Autonomous and Self-Regulating For doctors and lawyers, this means regulating and certifying themselves For doctors and lawyers, this means regulating and certifying themselves We do enjoy a certain amount of autonomy in that we determine how we perform our duties We do enjoy a certain amount of autonomy in that we determine how we perform our duties For some of us, it more likely means that our bosses don’t know what it is we’re supposed to be doing, so we can do whatever we want. For some of us, it more likely means that our bosses don’t know what it is we’re supposed to be doing, so we can do whatever we want.

Education and Training How does one become a Data Professional? How does one become a Data Professional? As many answers as there were people answering As many answers as there were people answering Mostly, we fell into it much as one falls into a volcano Mostly, we fell into it much as one falls into a volcano Nobody said “I went to school for it.” Nobody said “I went to school for it.”

Filling the Void This is where IASISST can make it’s most important contribution to the field This is where IASISST can make it’s most important contribution to the field Of the many data organizations out there, IASSSIST is the only one that explicitly declares education and training as an objective of the organization Of the many data organizations out there, IASSSIST is the only one that explicitly declares education and training as an objective of the organization Given that many of us work in academic settings, we are uniquely poised to set the standard for education and training in the data profession Given that many of us work in academic settings, we are uniquely poised to set the standard for education and training in the data profession

Data Curriculum Identify the specific knowledge and skills required to be a “Data Professional” Identify the specific knowledge and skills required to be a “Data Professional” Computer Technology Computer Technology Library Science Library Science Statistics and Research Methods Statistics and Research Methods Develop standard set of materials Develop standard set of materials Codify our knowledge Codify our knowledge Reference Reference

Not Just the Conference Nobody can learn all this “stuff” in just a couple of days. Nobody can learn all this “stuff” in just a couple of days. Also need reinforcement and time to practice Also need reinforcement and time to practice Offer workshops throughout the year Offer workshops throughout the year Can have the same class given several times in several places to make attendance easier Can have the same class given several times in several places to make attendance easier Academic curriculum with “Core Courses” and “Electives” Academic curriculum with “Core Courses” and “Electives”