Researchers and other data analysts have tremendous power to shape conversations about policies, programs, and resource allocations. But all data reflect people’s interests, assumptions and biases. Everyone who works with data should consider how their actions and resulting products can affect people and communities. Without input from people at the heart of the issues being studied, we risk asking the wrong questions, misinterpreting findings, and developing solutions that fail to achieve our goals.

To guide their work and protect people participating in studies, research organizations use the Belmont Report’s three principles of beneficence, respect for persons, and justice. All data experts—whether in government, the nonprofit sector, or the academy—could adopt these principles to move toward more equitable data practice.

Featured Content

Principles for Advancing Equitable Data Practice
Learn in this brief about the application of the Belmont Report’s principles and some principle-aligned practices. 

Resources
Tap into principles and guides that can help data analysts as they strive toward equitable data practice.

Taking an Equity Lens to Our Data Practice
Read this blog to learn about the need for reflective data practice and for examples of Urban projects that have used an equity lens.

Centering Racial Equity in Data Use
Watch this recorded webinar, co-hosted by Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy, for a discussion of framing for equitable data practices and local examples of centering racial equity in data use and integration.