Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

The Evolution Of Data Science: A New Mode Of Knowledge Production, Jennifer Lewis Priestley, Robert J. Mcgrath

Faculty and Research Publications

Is data science a new field of study or simply an extension or specialization of a discipline that already exists, such as statistics, computer science, or mathematics? This article explores the evolution of data science as a potentially new academic discipline, which has evolved as a function of new problem sets that established disciplines have been ill-prepared to address. The authors find that this newly-evolved discipline can be viewed through the lens of a new mode of knowledge production and is characterized by transdisciplinarity collaboration with the private sector and increased accountability. Lessons from this evolution can inform knowledge production …