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Thread: Constructive critique on models ( #COVID19 or otherwise), with a focus on Twitter
Anyone who knows me – in-person or online – knows I don’t shirk away from robust discussion & critique about population health measurement.
Anyone who knows me – in-person or online – knows I don’t shirk away from robust discussion & critique about population health measurement.
I *strongly* believe in the scientific process & that involves constructive critique – & sometimes some very tough feedback on your own or your group’s work.
It’d be a complete lie if I stood (typed?) here & said that getting strong criticism or feedback on your work is easy.
It’d be a complete lie if I stood (typed?) here & said that getting strong criticism or feedback on your work is easy.
Even after 12+ years in my field, it still hurts – or at least stings quite a bit – when people come after your or your group's work.
& it's so much worse when you *know* they know that you, as an individual, can't do much given your role or place in proverbial pecking order.
& it's so much worse when you *know* they know that you, as an individual, can't do much given your role or place in proverbial pecking order.
Honestly, I can't count the number of times I’ve cried - & like really cried - in my office or elsewhere after keeping it together for 30-60 minutes or even longer while people, often w/ much more power & influence than me, rip into my own or colleagues’ work.
Several years ago, after ~1 week into a new job, I was publicly upbraided by a high-profile individual who, well, was mainly pissed at my former boss.
The critiques were fair – & are vital to improve science – but taking it out on a mid-20-something in a public forum wasn’t.
The critiques were fair – & are vital to improve science – but taking it out on a mid-20-something in a public forum wasn’t.
Can I work on being less sensitive? Yes – unequivocally.
My skin gets thicker w/ each passing year, & I keep learning how to better cope w/ people who are nasty toward me individually (memo: it’s not usually about me).
But can we, the global we, also improve our discourse?
My skin gets thicker w/ each passing year, & I keep learning how to better cope w/ people who are nasty toward me individually (memo: it’s not usually about me).
But can we, the global we, also improve our discourse?
Everyone *absolutely* has the right to disagree – & strongly disagree! – w/ research: the data used, assumptions applied, modeling decisions made. Have those robust debates, share your critiques – in-person, phone, email, Twitter, etc.
Believe it or not, such critiques are valued & taken seriously – esp. when estimates are being considered for decision-making. The people I work w/ & other #COVID19 modelers I know aren’t sleeping: partly from workloads, partly from the very real fear of getting something wrong.
Of course, all of this is elevated for #COVID19, where the world as a whole is still learning about the virus & data systems are struggling to keep pace w/ the pandemic's toll. People are working around the clock, from epidemiological data entry to data processing to modeling.
Any data lags or challenges we’re collectively facing today stem from decades of neglect in investing routine health information systems & particularly pandemic preparedness. These are deeply systemic issues – & we’re collectively paying the price.
In sum: disagree – strongly disagree! – w/ any models or estimates out there, #COVID19 or otherwise.
But also recognize that everyone is human & nastily trolling people online isn't going to get us, collectively, any closer to effectively controlling & ending this pandemic.
But also recognize that everyone is human & nastily trolling people online isn't going to get us, collectively, any closer to effectively controlling & ending this pandemic.
