The effectiveness of embedded values analysis modules in Computer Science education: An empirical study

Embedding ethics modules within computer science courses has become a popular response to the growing recognition that computer science programs need to better equip their students to navigate the ethical dimensions of computing technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big...

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Main Authors: Matthew Kopec, Meica Magnani, Vance Ricks, Roben Torosyan, John Basl, Nicholas Miklaucic, Felix Muzny, Ronald Sandler, Christo Wilson, Adam Wisniewski-Jensen, Cora Lundgren, Ryan Baylon, Kevin Mills, Mark Wells
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2023-01-01
Series:Big Data & Society
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517231176230
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author Matthew Kopec
Meica Magnani
Vance Ricks
Roben Torosyan
John Basl
Nicholas Miklaucic
Felix Muzny
Ronald Sandler
Christo Wilson
Adam Wisniewski-Jensen
Cora Lundgren
Ryan Baylon
Kevin Mills
Mark Wells
author_facet Matthew Kopec
Meica Magnani
Vance Ricks
Roben Torosyan
John Basl
Nicholas Miklaucic
Felix Muzny
Ronald Sandler
Christo Wilson
Adam Wisniewski-Jensen
Cora Lundgren
Ryan Baylon
Kevin Mills
Mark Wells
author_sort Matthew Kopec
collection DOAJ
description Embedding ethics modules within computer science courses has become a popular response to the growing recognition that computer science programs need to better equip their students to navigate the ethical dimensions of computing technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics. However, the popularity of this approach has outpaced the evidence of its positive outcomes. To help close that gap, this empirical study reports positive results from Northeastern University's program that embeds values analysis modules into computer science courses. The resulting data suggest that such modules have a positive effect on students’ moral attitudes and that students leave the modules believing they are more prepared to navigate the ethical dimensions they will likely face in their eventual careers. Importantly, these gains were accomplished at an institution without a philosophy doctoral program, suggesting this strategy can be effectively employed by a wider range of institutions than many have thought.
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spelling doaj.art-e0315329db9242b8ae00c52fb07486932023-06-21T09:33:30ZengSAGE PublishingBig Data & Society2053-95172023-01-011010.1177/20539517231176230The effectiveness of embedded values analysis modules in Computer Science education: An empirical studyMatthew Kopec0Meica Magnani1Vance Ricks2Roben Torosyan3John Basl4Nicholas Miklaucic5Felix Muzny6Ronald Sandler7Christo Wilson8Adam Wisniewski-Jensen9Cora Lundgren10Ryan Baylon11Kevin Mills12Mark Wells13 The Ethics Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA Center for Advancing Teaching & Learning through Research, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA The Ethics Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA Data Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA The Ethics Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA The Ethics Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA The Ethics Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA The Ethics Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA Philosophy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA The Ethics Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USAEmbedding ethics modules within computer science courses has become a popular response to the growing recognition that computer science programs need to better equip their students to navigate the ethical dimensions of computing technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data analytics. However, the popularity of this approach has outpaced the evidence of its positive outcomes. To help close that gap, this empirical study reports positive results from Northeastern University's program that embeds values analysis modules into computer science courses. The resulting data suggest that such modules have a positive effect on students’ moral attitudes and that students leave the modules believing they are more prepared to navigate the ethical dimensions they will likely face in their eventual careers. Importantly, these gains were accomplished at an institution without a philosophy doctoral program, suggesting this strategy can be effectively employed by a wider range of institutions than many have thought.https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517231176230
spellingShingle Matthew Kopec
Meica Magnani
Vance Ricks
Roben Torosyan
John Basl
Nicholas Miklaucic
Felix Muzny
Ronald Sandler
Christo Wilson
Adam Wisniewski-Jensen
Cora Lundgren
Ryan Baylon
Kevin Mills
Mark Wells
The effectiveness of embedded values analysis modules in Computer Science education: An empirical study
Big Data & Society
title The effectiveness of embedded values analysis modules in Computer Science education: An empirical study
title_full The effectiveness of embedded values analysis modules in Computer Science education: An empirical study
title_fullStr The effectiveness of embedded values analysis modules in Computer Science education: An empirical study
title_full_unstemmed The effectiveness of embedded values analysis modules in Computer Science education: An empirical study
title_short The effectiveness of embedded values analysis modules in Computer Science education: An empirical study
title_sort effectiveness of embedded values analysis modules in computer science education an empirical study
url https://doi.org/10.1177/20539517231176230
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