Ethical Issues in Statistics in Expert Testimony

统计证据、报告和证词在决策中发挥着越来越大的作用，从个人和私人组织的行动到法院和其他公共当局的行动。由于他们的专业知识，在这些不同的环境中，统计学家被要求提供信息和建议。伴随着这些角色而来的是关于在困难情况下的适当行为的伦理问题。例如，当统计员被要求在法庭或国会作证时，或者当媒体要求他们发表评论时，统计学家对雇主或客户负有什么责任？当统计学家对如何处理统计分析中的不确定性，或统计研究的评估方法，或作出决定或裁决的数据的充分性持不同意见时，他们应该如何回应？该项目开始了一个进程，美国统计协会可借此提高统计学家和决策者对他们在这些不同环境中所面临的专业责任问题的认识。在一个具有广泛代表性的指导委员会的建议下，该协会将计划和举办一次关于统计员作为专家证人的作用的研讨会。利用人口普查不足和环境问题作为初步案例进行探索，讲习班将重点讨论专家证人在法庭、国会听证会和监管专家小组中出现的问题。讲习班报告将讨论统计员以及呼吁他们抑制或加强道德行为的组织和机构的作用。本期和后续研讨会的材料将以学生、从业者和统计用户可访问的案例手册格式组织成文本。

Statistical evidence, reports, and testimony play an increasing role in decision-making, ranging from the actions of individuals and private organizations, to those of the courts and other public authorities. Because of their expertise, statisticians are called on for information and advice, in these various settings. With these roles come ethical questions concerning appropriate behavior in difficult situations. What is the statisticians' responsibility to employer or client, for instance, when called on for testimony in a courtroom or before the Congress, or when asked by the media for comment? How should statisticians respond when they disagree as to the treatment of uncertainty in statistical analyses, or the methods of evaluation of statistical studies, or the sufficiency of data for making a decision or ruling? This project begins a process whereby the American Statistical Association (ASA) can enhance the knowledge of statisticians and decision makers about the issues of professional responsibility facing all of them in these various settings. With advice from a broadly representative Steering Committee, the Association will plan and hold a workshop on the role of statisticians as expert witnesses. Using the census undercount and environmental topics as initial cases for exploration, the workshop will focus on issues that arise for expert witnesses in courtrooms, in Congressional hearings and on regulatory expert panels. The workshop report will address the roles of statisticians and of the organizations and institutions calling on them in inhibiting or enhancing ethical behavior. Material from this and later workshops will be organized into a text using a casebook format accessible to students, practitioners, and users of statistics.