Data Silences in Data Preparation: Toward a Taxonomy

The ”Investigating Data Work Across Domains: New Perspectives on the Work of Creating Data” workshop proposes to shape a toolbox for data work. We propose the concept of data silence as a conceptual tool. We use a recent taxonomy of data silences to de-center data as the primary object of interest. and to re-center data work on people and their relationships to one another through data. We outline several subclasses of data silences, including happenstance silences, benevolent silence of caring, before turning to oppressive silences, and deceitful silences. We hope to interest other workshop members to extend and deepen this analysis.