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，统计学家被要求在这些不同的环境中提供信息和建议。这些角色带来了关于在困难情况下适当行为的道德问题。例如，当被要求在法庭或国会作证时，或者当被媒体要求发表评论时，统计学家对雇主或客户的责任是什么？当统计学家对统计分析中的不确定性的处理、对统计研究的评估方法、对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？这个项目开始了一个进程，使美国统计协会能够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，协会将计划并举办一次关于统计学家作为专家证人作用的讲习班。讲习班将以人口普查少计和环境问题作为初步探讨的案例，重点讨论在法庭上、国会听证会上和管理专家小组中出现的专家证人问题。讲习班的报告将讨论统计人员以及呼吁统计人员的组织和机构在抑制或加强道德行为方面的作用。本次讲习班和以后讲习班的材料将以案例手册的形式组织成一个文本，供学生、从业人员和统计用户使用。

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.