Computer Science

1. Read each discussion and answer the discussion questions.

2. Each answer must be at least 150 words and should include references if you have used any.

Discussions

1. The insurance industry is one of the most data driven industries we have. After all, risk analysis is their business! As much as they rely on data, however, the industry has been criticized for not using big data even more.  Critics say that the industry needs to mine for variables they have yet to look at, such as the relationship between mobile phone usage and accidents. Others say that cell phone data is private and should not be shared.

Questions to Answer:

What is your recommendation for balancing the power of data with the issues of privacy and ethics? What recommendations do you have for industries who want to look out for their own best interests while also keeping consumers in mind? Pick a specific industry to discuss (it does not have to be insurance).

2. The 2016 Presidential election was unlike anything we’ve seen in the past. Much like the two previous elections, political strategists were relying heavily on data analytics for predictions. According to a 2016 eWeek article, “One GOP strategist says its analysts have about 400 data points stored for the average American voter and are querying the database constantly for insight” (Preimerberger, 2016).  This same article implied that phone polls were a thing of the past for election predictions.

Questions to Answer:

For much of 2016, the data analysts predicted that Hillary Clinton would win the election. Why were they wrong? What is faulty data or something else? Conduct a quick internet search on the use of data analytics in elections. Read at least two articles related to the topic. After discussing why they were wrong, explain what you believe the future of analytics will be in elections, both local and national.

3. According to a 2015 article by Talent Culture, Big Data and the use of Data Analytics is changing the way hiring decisions are made at companies across the globe. They are using data analytics to both create the job listing that they use for advertisement and then to select the right candidates to interview.

Conduct a quick internet search on the use of data analytics in hiring from a candidate’s perspective. Read at least two articles related to the topic. After briefly explaining the article (in 3 – 5 sentences tops), explain how this might impact your own personal job search activities. Don’t forget to respond to your peers and include your sources in APA style!